LADY JANE GREY. 




[L#\r'NY JAIME ©U 



THE LIFE 



OF 



LADY XANE GREY 



DAVID t BARTLETT. 




PHILADELPHIA : 

POUTER & COATES. 



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LITTLE VOLUME 



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I OFFER no apology fef ""preparing this \f,.'j(ue. 
The lovely woman who is its subject, pjv-;(jjssed a 
character worthy of contemplation. Her career is 
one of the most interesting and tragical to be found 
in the pages of English history. 

But I apologise most heartily fcr the manner in 
which I have executed my task^ though apologies 
are not generally accepted by the reading public. My 
object ha,s been to prepare a popular sketch of the 
Life of hlu ly Jane Grey — to make a book so conve- 
nient in liize, and simple in style, as to command 
the att'j'/.(:on of the million. The subject of this me- 
moir e'Uhted. so long ago, that it has been impossible 
to dis« fev any new facts connected with her life ; 
but 1 have searched thoroughly all the proper au- 
thcritos, and present, in a single volume, every- 
tli'V.*; of interest which has reference to Lady Jane 



Vlll PREFACE. 

It has seemed to me necessary to give a brief sketch 
of the times immediately previous to those in which 
Lady Jane Grey existed, for her own career and 
sad fate were, in a manner, dependent upon the 
political events of those times. Her claim to the 
throne of England cannot be understood, vsdthout 
adverting to the history of Henry VHI. and his 
queens, one of whom was the dearest female friend 
Lady Jane ever possessed. 

My authorities in the preparation of this volume 
have been. Knight, Goldsmith, Hume, Fox, Burnet, 
Agnes Strickland, and Speed. I am also much in- 
debted to an English volume upon Lady Jane Grey, 
by Howard. 

I shall be contend with little praise for my book, 
if any of those who read it shall be led to imitate 
the character of the beautiful and illustrious woman 
whose sad, yet in another sense glorious, career, it 
records. D. W. B. 

Hartfoed, Conn., 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

FAOI 

Birth of Lady Jane Grey. — Family. — Extraction.— Thom- 
as Grey. — His sayings. — Third Marquis of Dorset, Lady 
Jane's Father. — Charles Brandon, — Mary Tudor. — Louis 
XII. — Marriage. — Death. — Mary's marriage with Charles 
Brandon. — Henry VIII. offended. — Reconciliation 13 

CHAPTER 11. 

History of the Reformation. — Henry VIII. — His marriage 
with Katharine of Arragon. — Birth of Princess Mary. — 
Wycliflfe. — Luther. — Reformation in Germany. — Henry 
VIII. an author. — Wolsey. — His career. — The King 
falls in love with Anne Boleyn. — Percy. — Anne. — Di- 
vorce from Katharine. — Marriage with Anne Boleyn.— 
Wolsey's fall. — Rise of Cromwell. — Execution of Anne 
Boleyn 26 

CHAPTER HI. 

Birth of Lady Jane Grey. — Her father. — His Country- 
Seat. — Lady Jane's early history. — Customs of the 
age. — Her appearance at Court as maid to Katharine 
Parr. — Jane Seymour. — King's marriage. — Birth of 
Prince Edward. — Death of the Queen. — Henry marries 
Anne of Cleves. — Deserts her. — Marries Katharine How- 
ard. — Her disgrace and execution 58 



X CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER IV. 

FASI 

Katharine Parr. — Sir Thomas Seymour. — Katharme mar- 
ries Henry VIIL — Lady Jane Grey. — Katharine's nar- 
row escape. — Death of the King. — Edward VI. — Som- 
erset. — Admiral Seymour marries Katharine Parr. — 
Project of marrying Lady Jane Grey to the King. — Con- 
duct of Elizabeth. — Death of Katharine Parr. — Lady 
Jane Grey her chief momner ITS 

CHAPTER V. 

Correspondence in reference to Lady Jane. — She goes to 
her father's house. — Returns to the care of Seymour. 
— The Adnjiral arrested. — Lady Jane returns to Brad- 
gate. — Seymour beheaded. — Letter of Roger Ascham 
to Lady Jane.^-Presented at Court. — Visit with the 
Princess Mary. — ^Mary presents her with a gold neck- 
ace 98 

CHAPTER VI. 

Duke of Somerset. — Lisurrections. — Rise of the Earl of 
Warwick. — Made Duke of Northumberland. — Downfall 
of Somerset. — Northumberland's ambition, — His designs 
upon the Crown 124 

CHAPTER Vn. 

Lady Jane Grey. — Description of her person. — Her learn- 
ing and virtues. — Northumberland's projects. — Imagin- 
ary conversation between Roger Ascham and Lady 
Jane. — Her marriage with Lord Guildford Dudley. — 
Edward VI. a victim to Northumberland. — Makes his 
WUl in favor of Lady Jane Grey. — Troubles with the 
Council. — Innocence of Lady Jane 1S6 



CONTENTS. XI 

CHAPTER VIII. 

FAGB 

The Princess Mary. — Her early mortifications. — Her dis- 
grace. — Fruitless attempts at marriage. — Northumber- 
land's treatment of Mary. — Remarks upon her charac- 
ter 151 



CHAPTER IX. 

Jeath of Edward VI. — Lady Jane Grey apprised of his 
Death and Will. — Refuses to accept the Crown. — Weeps 
and faints. — Is forced to accept it. — Goes to the Tow- 
er. — Mary is surrounded in the country by Friends. — 
Proclamation of Lady Jane. — Advance of Mary upon 
London. — The Nobility and Council flock to her stand- 
ard. — Lady Jane gives up the Crown. — The arrest of 
Ladv Jane and her husband. llQ 



CHAPTER X. 

Duke of Northumberland. — Suflblk set at liberty. — Trial 
of Northumberland — His execution. — Lady Jane Grey. 
— Her treatment. — Her angelic conduct. — Queen Mary's 
religious persecutions. — Her coronation 211 



CHAPTER XL 

Trial of Lady Jane Grey and Lord Guildford at Guild- 
hall. — Their conduct. — Sentenced to death. — Sympathy 
for Lady Jane. — Religious matters. — Dr. Sandys. — Pro- 
ject of Mary's Marriage with Philip. — Opposition of Peo- 
ple and Parliament. — Insurrections of Suffolk, Carew, 
and Wyatt. — Wyatt in London. — His downfall 231 



Xll > CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XII. 

FAGI 

Eesult of the Insurrections. — The approaching fate of 
Lady Jane Grey. — Mary signs Lady Jane's death-Avar- 
rant. — She prepares for death — Religious dispute with 
Feckenham. — Letter to her father. — Letter to her sister 
Katharine. — Her Prayer. — Her last hours. — Death of 
Lord Guildford. — Her own triumphant end 250 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Trial of the Duke of Suffolk. — His execution. — End of 
Wyatt. — Lady Katharine and Lady Mary Grey. — Per- 
Becution of Queen Elizabeth. — The end. 2*8 



LIFE OF LADY JANE GREY. 



CHAPTER I. 

BiaTH OF LADY JANE GREY. — FAMILY. EXTEACTION. THOMAS 

GEEY. HIS SAYINGS. THIED MARQUIS OF DOESET, LADY JANe's 

FATHKE. CHARLES BEANDON. MAEY TDDOE. LOUIS XII. MAE- 

EIAGE. DEATH. MAEY's MARRIAGE WITH CHARLES BEANDON 

HENEY VUL OFFENDED. ^EECONCILIATION. 

Lady Jane Grey was born iu Bradgate, 
Leicestershire, one of the interior counties of 
England. The precise date of her birth cannot 
be satisfactorily ascertained, no two of the chron- 
iclers of her times agreeing upon this point. 
The probabilities are, however, that she was born 
in the year 1537, being of the same age as Ed- 
ward YL, with whose fate in after years her 
own fortunes were closely connected. 

The family of GtRey was originally of Nor- 
man extraction. Rollo or Frilburt was the first 



14 THELIFEOF 

of the family record ; he was chamberlain to 
Eobert, Duke of JSTormandj, who made him a 
present of the castle and lands of Croy, in 
Picardy, from which sprung the name de Croy, 
and subsequently de Grey. 

John, Lord de Croy, jnly son of Kollo, mar- 
ried Adela, daughter and co-heir of William 
Fitz Osbert, by whom he had a son — 

Sir Arnold de Grey, who soon after the Nor- 
man conquest became lord of Water Eaton, 
Stoke, and Eotherfield. By his wife Joan, 
heiress of the Baron Ponte del Arche, he had a 
son — 

Auchitel de Grey, whose eldest son's name 
was — 

Eichard de Grey, whose son — ■ 

Auchitel de Grey, married Eva, daughter of 
Baldwin de Eedrers, Earl of Devon. Their 
eldest son's name was — 

John de Grey — his son — 

Henry de Grey had a grant of the lands of 
Thurrock, in Essex, from Eiohard I. His second 
son — 

John de Grey, had a high position under the 
government. He married Emma, daughter and 
heiress of Geoffrey de Glanville — their son — 



LADY JANE GREY. 15 

Eeginald de Grey, married Maud, daughter 
of the Baron of Willon. Their son — 

John de Grey, married the daughter of Lord 
Basset of Drayton. Their son — 

Eoger de Grey, married Elizabeth, daughter 
of Lord Hastings. Their son— 

Eeginald de Grey, married Eleanor, daughter 
of Lord Straise. He commanded all the king's 
castles in Wales, in the reign of Edward IIL 
Their son — 

Eeginald de Grey, married Joan, daughter of 
Lord Ashley. Their son — 

Sir Edward de Grey, married Elizabeth, 
daughter of Lord Ferrens. Their son — • 

Sir John Grey married the eldest daughter of 
the Earl of Elvers — she after his death marrying 
King Edward IV. Their son — 

Sir Thomas Grey held high office under Henry 
VII. — was created Knight of the Garter, Earl of 
Huntingdon and Marquis of Dorset. His son^ 

Thomas Grey, the second Marquis of Dorset, 
was a great favorite of Henry YIIL, in the third 
year of whose reign he was general of the army 
sent into Spain for the purpose of invading 
Guienne. Peace was restored, and two years 
after the, with four of his brothers, the Duke of 



16 THE LIFE OF 

Suffolk and others, went to Paris, and obtained 
great renown at tlie tournaments of St. Denis, In 
1520, lie was present at the interview between 
Henry YIII. and the French monarch Francis, at 
the famous Champ d^Or, or Field of Gold. He 
had the honor of carrying the sword of state on 
this occasion, and won renown at the tournaments 
which graced the distinguished meeting of the 
monarchs. 

In 1522, he was chosen to go to Calais to re- 
ceive and escort the Emperor Charles Y. into 
England. He married for a second wife, Marga- 
ret, daughter of Sir Hobert Wotton. He was a 
man of extraordinary abilities, of exceedingly stu- 
dious disposition, and was not characterized by 
the vices of his age. Some of his wise sayings — 
for he was fond of writing — are preserved to this 
day in the libraries of English antiquarians. We 
will quote a specimen. 

" The greatest trust between man and man is 
giving counsel." 

"Never was the man merry who had more 
than one woman in his bed, one friend in hia 
Dosom, one faith in his heart." 

His son — 

Henry Grey, third Marquis of Dorset, came to 



LADY JANE GREY. 17 

the title in 1530 He was father to Lady Jane 
Grey. He was at first Constable of Engknd, 
and possessed other high trusts under the gov- 
ernment, and finally received the title of his 
wife's father — the Duke of Suflfolk. He married 
Frances, eldest daughter of Charles Brandon, 
Duke of Suffolk, whose wife was sister'to Henry 
Vin. The children of Henry, third Marquis of 
Dorset (afterwards Duke of Suffolk), were-tTane, 
Katharine, and Mary. It was through the mar- 
riage of Henry, third Marquis Of Dorset, that the 
claim to the crown of England came into the 
Dorset family. 

Lady Jane Grey's claim to the crown was 
through her mother, and it will be necessary for 
us to give a brief sketch of her descent upon the 
mother's side. 

Henry VIL, one of the wisest kings of Eng- 
land, married Elizabeth of York, and their chil- 
dren were Arthur, Margaret, Henry, Mary and 
Katherine. Of these only three survived their 
parents — Margaret, afterward Queen of Scotland, 
Henry, King of England, and Mary, who became 
Queen of France. 

Mary Tudor, the grandmother of Lady Jane 
Grey, was born in the year 1498, and was a great 



18 THE LIFE OF 

favorite with her brother, the terrible Henry 
VIII. She was very beautiful, and won the 
heart of the Duke of Suffolk. Charles Brandon, 
Duke of Suffolk, was a person of elegant appear- 
ance, most winning manners and exalted courage. 
He was perhaps the most accomplished gentleman 
of his time, and contrived to win the affections 
of the king, who made him an esquire of his 
body, and chamberlain of the principality of 
Wales. He fought a battle with the French off 
Brest, and the following year asked leave to at- 
tend the expedition to Terouenne and Tournay. 
Henry appointed him to the command of the 
vanguard of the army, and also made him Vis- 
count I'Isle. The next year he also made him 
Duke of Suffolk. The duke was fascinated by 
+.he youthful graces of Mary Tudor, and she was 
pleased with his elegant manners, handsome ap- 
pearance and courageous actions. Their love, 
however, was probably unknown to the king. 
At any rate, in 1514, Mary was married to Louis 
XII. of France. The French monarch when in 
the prime of life was tall, agile and handsome, 
was somewhat dissipated in his youth, but upon 
his accession to the throne, he forsook his vices 
He had been compelled by Louis XL to marry 



LADY JANE GREY. lb 

his daughter Jeanne, a deformed girl, but of 
amiable disposition. The poor girl loved her 
handsome husband passionately, but when he 
came to the throne, he put her away through a 
dispensation of the pope. Jeanne wept and 
begged in vain, for Louis married Anne of Brit- 
tany, who was a faithful and pious wife. She 
died in January, 1514. Mary, the sister of 
Henry VIII., was affianced to Prince Charles, 
grandson of Maximilian and Ferdinand, while 
his father was detained years before at Windsor 
Castle. The prince did not consider the engage- 
ment binding, and Louis XIL proposed the 
hand of his own daughter to him as his wife. 
Henry VIII. was frantic with rage at what he 
termed the treachery of the prince, and the am- 
bassador of France proposed, with adroitness, 
that Mary Tudor should marry the king, his 
master. Henry accepted the proposal — never 
for a moment considering the heart of his sister. 
The French king was fifty-three years old while 
Mary was only sixteen, and very charming in 
her beauty. She was deeply in love with Charles 
Brandon, but saw that opposition was utterly 
useless, and consented to the union. A treaty 
was made between the two monarchs, Louis a<rree- 



20 THE LIFE OF 

ing to pay Henry a million of crowns in ten 
yearly instalments, in discharge of arrears due 
on the old treaty of Staples, and Henry bound 
himself to give his sister Mary a dower of four 
hundred thousand crowns. A marriage cere- 
mony took place at Grreenwich, on the 7th of 
August, the French ambassador acting as proxy 
for the king. Louis became very impatient for 
the personal society of his beautiful wife, but she, 
her heart far from being his, preferred to linger 
in England. Louis wrote to Cardinal Wolsey 
early in September, demanding that Mary come 
over to France at once, but she staid at her 
brother's court till October, when the court re- 
moved with her to Dover, on the coast, where 
with a gorgeous retinue she sailed for Boulogne. 
Among her retinue was her lover Charles Bran- 
don, and one of her maids of honor, was the then 
young and pretty Anne Boleyn, who afterwards 
became the wife of Henry VIII., and ended her 
brilliant but sad career upon the scaffold. Lady 
Anne Grey and Elizabeth Grey, sisters to the 
Marquis of Dorset, were also among the young 
queen's maids of honor. 

The royal company had been detained at Do- 
ver on account of the fearful storms which swept 



LADY JANE GREY. 21 

over the channel, but on the second day of Oc- 
tober, Henrj conducted his sister to the shore, 
kissed her affectionately, and committed her to 
God and the king, her future lortl. The sea was 
yet violently agitated, and the perils of the short 
voyage were great, — the fleet being scattered, and 
some of the ships driven upon the French shore. 
On the way from Boulogne to Abbeville, Queen 
Mary rode on a palfrey which was covered wiib 
a golden cloth, and her ladies were dressed in 
crimson velvet. On the 8th of October the 
French monarch received her joyfully at Abbe- 
ville, and the day after they were re-married. 
The day was one of great festivity and splendor, 
but the next morning the queen was severely 
tried by an order of Louis, to the effect that all 
her English attendants should return home. Two 
or three exceptions were finally made,- and the 
Duke of Suffolk, the queen's old lover, remained 
in the quality of ambassador. The queen's coro- 
nation took place on the 5th of November, and 
there followed it a continual round of festivities. 
Louis seemed to be intoxicated with his charm- 
ing young wife, and indulged in dangerous dissi- 
pations. In the meantime, the Duke of Suffolk 
remained at the French court, though his conduct 



22 THELIFEOF 

towards Mciry was irreproachable. On the first of 
January, Louis, worn out with his excesses, ex- 
pired at Paris. Ten days only after his death, 
Mary wrote the following letter to Cardinal Wol- 
sey, showing pretty plainly that her heart was 
not broken by the death of her royal husband : 

" My reverend, good Lord, — I recommend me 
to you, and thank you for letters and good les- 
sons that you have given to me. My lord, I pray 
you as my trust is in you, to remember me to 
the king, my brother, for such cause and business 
as I have for to do : for as now I have no other 
to put my trust in but the king my brother, and 
you. And as it shall please the king my brother 
and his council, I will be ordered; and so pray 
T you, my lord, to show his grace, saying that 
the king my husband is departed to' God, whose 
soul God pardon. And whereas you advise me 
that I should make no promise, my lord, I trust 
the king my brother and you will not depend on 
me solely please God. I trust I have so ordered 
myself since I came hither, that it hath been to 
the honor of the king my brother and me, since 
I came hither, and so I trust to continue. If there 
be anything that I may do for you, I would be 



LADY JANE GREY. 23 

glad for to do it in these parts, and shall be glad 
to do it for you. No more to you at this time, 
but God preserve you. 

" Written at Paris the 10 of January, 1515, 
" By your loving friend, 

" Mary, Queen of France." 

A short time after the date of this letter, Mary 
jvrote a letter to Henry, begging him to send for 
her, as she longed to see his face. The truth was, 
she longed to see the face of her old lover, the 
Duke of Suffolk, who had returned a short time 
before Louis's death, to England. Henry, in an- 
swer to his sister's letter, sent the Duke of Suf- 
♦iblk and others to Paris, to escort her home. As 
'oon as she met Suffolk, Mary was in transports 
of joy ; and he, being encouraged by her, ven- 
tured upon asking for her hand. She replied 
that if he did not win her in a month, he would 
never do so. They were soon privately married 
in Paris, after which Mary wrote the king, her 
brother, imploring his pardon for the step she 
had taken without his leave. They then travelled 
to Calais, at which place her marriage was cele- 
brated by public rites and ceremonies. 

Henry was angry for a time, and when the 



24 THELIFEOF 

couple returned to England, they were afraid to 
come up to court, but went to their seat in Suf- 
folk. From that place Marj wrote another letter 
to the king, who, loving both her and his old fa- 
vorite, the duke, consented to a reconciliation. 
Bj certain persons, the marriage was said to be 
illegal, as the Duke of Suffolk's first wife. Lady 
Mortimer, was still alive ; but she had been re- 
pudiated by him long before. After his marriage 
the duke frequented the court, and was a favorite 
of the king. A year after the marriage, Marga- 
ret, Queen of Scots, came to London, and the 
king and his two sisters had a happy meeting. 

Henry, the third Marquis of Dorset, married 
Frances, the daughter of the Duke of Suffolk. 
Their eldest child was the Lady Jane Grey, and 
in many things the Marquis of Dorset was 
scarcely worthy to be the parent of so good, so 
illustrious a daughter. His mother complained 
bitterly of his treatment of her, declaring that he 
withheld her property from her, and in other 
matters conducted himself in a most undutiful 
manner. The family coat-ofarms is thus de- 
scribed : Barry of six, argent and azure ; in chief, 
three torteauxex, ermine : the motto, A ma puis* 
sance. 



CHAPTER II. 

»ISTORY OF THE EEFORMA'nON. HF.NUY VIII. HIS MARRIAGE 'WITH 

KATHARINE OF ARRAGON. BIRTH OF PRINCESS MARY. ^WlCt-IFFK. 

LUTHER. — REFORMATION IN GERMANY. HENRY VIII. AN AU- 
THOR. — WOLSEY. — HIS CAREER. THE KING FALLS IN LOVE WITH 

ANNE BOLEYN. PERCY. ANNE. DIVORCE FROM KATHARINE. 

MARRIAGE WITH ANNE BOLEYN. WOLSEY's FALL. RISE OF CROM- 
WELL. EXECUTION OF ANNE BOLEYN. 

In order to clearly understand the causes which 
led to Lady Jane Grey's innocent usurpation of 
the English crown, it will be necessary briefly to 
sketch the history of the Protestant Reformation 
in England, and therefore to go back to the com- 
mencement of Henry VIII.'s reign. That prince 
was in his eighteenth year when he ascended the 
throne, made vacant by his father's death. He 
was exceedingly handsome, frank and generous 
in his disposition at this time, though noted for 
his ardent love of pleasure, and he was a uni- 
versal favorite. Previous to his coronation, 
Elenry had been married to Katharine of Arra- 

gon, the daughter of Queen Isabella of Spain, and 
B 



26 THE LIFE OF 

the widow of Prince Arthur, who was the eldest 
son of Henry YII., and brother to Henry VIII. 
Prince Arthur and Katharine were married in 
November, 1501, the former fifteen years of age 
— the latter seventeen. Five months after the 
marriage. Prince Arthur died, and Katharine 
was left a young widow. Her marriage-portion 
consisted of 200,000 crowns, and half the sum 
had been paid at the time of the marriage. Her 
father and mother now signified their wish for 
the return of their daughter with her marriage- 
portion. Henry YII., to do away with the ne- 
cessity of returning so much money, and to gain 
the unpaid portion of the young widow's dower, 
immediately proposed that she should marry her 
brother-in-law. Prince Henry. But Henry was 
five years younger than Katharine, and the pro- 
posed match was distasteful to him ; neverthe- 
less, in June 1503, she was betrothed to him. 
Three years later, Henry VII. conceived a strong 
desire to marry Joanna, the sister of Katharine; 
and fearing that the people would not be satisfied 
with the marriage of the father and two sons into 
one family, he forced Prince Henry the day be- 
fore he attained his fifteenth year, to solemnly 
protest against his betrothmeht to Katharine. 



LADY JANE GREY. 27 

But SO soon as the young prince was forbidden 
to think of marriage with Katharine, he at once 
was determined to obtain her, and they were 
carefully kept apart to prevent a private mar- 
riage. When at length the king became con- 
vinced of the hopeless insanity of Joanna, Prince 
Henry and Katharine were married. The event 
took place on the 11th of June, 1509, and they 
were together crowned on the 24th of the same 
month. The queen at this time, though five 
years older than the king, was, if not handsome, 
at least of pleasing appearance, and possessed a 
pious heart and beautiful disposition. She was 
fond of reading pious books, and all her pleas- 
ures were of the gentler sort. That Henry had 
great confidence in her during the early part of 
his reign, is very evident from the momentous 
trusts which he at difterent times reposed in her. 
At the close of 1510, the queen gave birth to an 
infant son, which was christened Henry, but 
which died a few weeks after its advent into the 
world. Had this child lived, the queen proba- 
bly would have been saved all her future trou- 
bles. In November, 1514, Katharine again be- 
came a mother to a prince, which survived but a 
few days. In February, 1816, was born the 



28 THE LIFE OF 

Princess Mary, who was destined in later years 
to bear so cruel a sway over the fortunes of the 
illustrious lady who is the subject of this work. 
Katharine bore Henry five children, but one, of 
them all, arriving to years of maturity. 

When Henry VIII. came to the throne of 
England, the religion of the country was Eoman 
Catholic. Indeed, the great Eeformation was not 
commenced. A long time before, Wycliffe had 
denounced the abominations of the Eomish 
Church, but his doctrines had not taken root in 
*he popular mind, though unquestionably there 
were many pious people in England who at the 
date of Henry's accession to power, were dis- 
gusted with many of the practices of the Romish 
priests. Eight years later, and Martin Luther, 
the humble monk, sounded the note of alarm 
over Europe, against the frightful doctrine of in- 
dulgences. As yet, on every other point, he was 
a good Catholic ; but soon, with an intellect made 
clear and strong through liberty and a freedom 
from the prevailing superstition of the times, he 
went still further, and even questioned the su- 
premacy of the Pope. Germany at once was 
made the theatre of intense excitement, through 
the fearless and eloquent words of the courageous 



LADY JANE GREY. 29 

monk ; and though the most persevering and en- 
ergetic e£forts were made to put down Luther 
and his heretical opinions, through the provi- 
dence of God thej were unavailing. 

The noise of the excitement on the Continent 
was heard in England, and Henry VIIL turned 
author in defence of his religion. He wrote a 
book to confute the heresies of Luther, entitled 
" Defence of the Seven Sacraments against Mar- 
tin Luther," a copy of which was sent to Pope 
Leo, who was so pleased, that he granted to 
Henry the title of " Defender of the Faith." Lu- 
ther immediately replied to the royal author, 
scattering his flimsy arguments to the winds, and 
treating him in any but a reverential manner. 
He even affected not to believe Henry wrote the 
book, and this piqued the monarch more than 
Luther's logic. By the skilful management of 
Cardinal Wolsey, the whole affair set the king 
the more firmly against Lutheranism, and a con- 
temptible persecution was at once commenced 
against all persons who possessed copies of the 
heretical books, 

Thomas Wolsey was the son of an Ipswich 
butcher, who gave him an admirable education, 
and fitted him for the Church. He was first a 



S<y THE LIFE OF ' 

country parson, but bis learning, wit, and talenta 
becoming known to Bishop Fox, be introduced 
bim to his master, Henry VII. Upon tbe ac- 
cession of Henry YIII. Bishop Fox and tbe Duke 
of Norfolk struggled for tbe supremacy in the 
council, and when tbe bishop perceived tbat the 
soldier was fast gaining tbe confidence of tbe 
king, be brougbt Wolsey under tbe notice of 
Henry, boping thereby to get tbe upper band of 
tbe Duke of Norfolk. But Wolsey, witb aston- 
ishing talent, became bimself tbe most powerful 
and influential man at court, and left bis friends 
tbe duke and bishop, far behind bim in tbe race 
for distinction. He at once adapted bimself to 
all tbe sensual desires of the king, eating and 
drinking like anj courtier, and yet wben there 
was occasion, sbowing tbat be possessed not only 
profound learning, but also great abilities as a 
statesman. He was made lord chancellor of the 
kingdom, and was appointed by the pope to tbe 
lucrative and exalted office of papal legate. Ht? 
now became tbe most gorgeous prelate tbe world 
ever saw, maintaining a train of eight hundred 
persons, and at one time receiving an income as 
large as that of tbe king. He was the patron of 
learning and tbe arts, and was popular witb the 



LADY JANE GREY. 31 

j^ople until he was obliged, to meet the wants 
cf Henrj, to tax them too oppressively. Through- 
oat his most brilliant career he was devoted to 
the interests of his king. He did not hesitate to 
minister to his basest passions, thongh this was 
done for the security of his own interests. He 
was constantly aspiring to the papal chair, and 
made everything but his devotion to Henry, bend 
to this ambitious desire. He concealed from the 
nation his selfishness for a time, but by repeated 
taxes he lost his popularity. He built the fa- 
mous palace at Hampton Court, which stands to 
this day a monument to his splendor. After it 
was finished, Henry asked of him who it was in- 
tended for • whereupon the great prelate, fearincr 
th.e jealousy of ine terrible monarch, (for the 
palace was the most sumptuous then built in the 
kingdom,) very handsomely gave it to Henry. 

But England was fast approaching the hour 
ever reckoned the most important in her religious 
history, and Wolsey, his sad fate. The king had 
long been noted for liis intrigues, his gross devo- 
tion to sensual pleasures, and his inoonstancy, 
but had treated his wife with a certain respect, 
(vhich even that coarse age demanded from hira 
; .s consistent with propriety. In the year 1523, 



82 THE LIFE OF 

he fell in love with Anne Boleyn, the daughtei 
of Sir Thomas Boleyn. She was twenty years 
of age, tall and slender, with dark hair and bril- 
liant eyes, and very fascinating manners. Pre- 
vious to seeing her Henry bad indulged in a love 
or fancy for her sister Mary Boleyn, indeed some 
of the chroniclers of that age declare that she 
was his mistress, which, upon the whole, we do 
not believe. Anne was sprightly, witty, and 
possessed of a large share of animal beauty, and 
well calculated to excite the gross passions of the 
king. He first met her in her father's garden, 
at Hever, by accident, and being surprised and 
delighted with her beauty entered into a conver- 
sation with her, and was still more surprised and 
delighted with her wit. When he next saw 
Wolsey he said, that " he had been discoursing 
with a young lady who had the wit of an angel 
and was worthy of a crown ;" most prophetic 
words ! " It is sufficient," replied the acute Wol- 
sey, " if your majesty finds her worthy of your 
love." The prelate was quite willing that the 
king should become engrossed in another love- 
affair, having no doubt but it would end like all 
his intrigues in the ruin of his victim, conse- 
quently he suggested that Anne be appointed 



LADY JANE GREY. 33 

maid of honor to the queen. As a matter of 
course, Anne Boleyn, being the most beautiful 
and accomplished woman at court, soon was sur- 
rounded with admirers. Lord Henry Percy, son 
of the Earl of Northumberland, though contract- 
ed by his father to the daughter of the E-arl of 
Shrewsbury, fell violently in love with Anne, 
and she so far returned his passion as to private- 
ly engage herself to him. Indeed there can be 
no possible question about the sincerity of ker 
love for Percy, and she never loved any one else. 
The cardinal was so blind as not to see the affec- 
tion which the young couple entertained for each 
other, and Henry himself first made the discov- 
ery, and from the jealousy which at once filled 
his heart, discovered further that he himself 
loved the beautiful Anne. 

He at once charged Wolsey to separate the 
lovers and to dissolve their engagement. Percy 
and Anne were both plunged into grief, for as 
yet the latter had not indulged in visions of am- 
bition and power. The cardinal sent for Percy 
and reprimanded him severely for his secret en- 
gagement with Anne, and he was shortly aft^r 
banished from court, and compelled to marry the 
daughter of the Earl of Shrewsbury. He was a 
^ 8 



84 THE LIFE OF 

man of gentle manners, of noble affections, and 
his sad fortune completely wrecked his happiness. 
That he never fully recovered from his bitter 
loss is very evident from the history of his sub- 
sequent career. Anne was dismissed to her 
father's house, being very much offended and 
vowing that if it ever were in her power, she 
would be revenged on Wolsey. At this time 
she had little idea how soon would come the day 
on which she would take ample revenge upon 
the cardinal. After a little time, however, the 
king came down to her father's castle, but Anne 
would not see him. Shortly after, to soften her 
heart, Henry advanced her father to the peerage 
under the title of Viscount Eochford. In 1527, 
Anne again appeared at court, and Henry en- 
deavored in vain to seduce her from the path of 
virtue. To his criminal addresses, she replied, 

" Most noble king, I will rather lose my hfe 
than my virtue, which will be the greatest and 
best part of the dowry I shall bring my hus- 
band." 

'' I shall continue to hope," replied the king. 

" I understand not," she said, " how you 
should retain such hope. Your wife I cannot be, 
both ill respect of mine own unworthiness, and 



LADY JANE GREY. 85 

Also because you have a queen already. Your 
mistress I will not be." 

Henry was the more deeply set upon obtaining 
Anne, now that there seemed little hope for suc- 
cess. He wrote her a series of love-letters filled 
with passion and a half-sensual love. That Anne 
replied to some of these letters cannot be denied, 
and it is evident that about this time she began 
to dream of a brilliant career at court. It is not 
proper from this date to call her a virtuous 
woman, for whether or not she consented to the 
king's desires, she did receive not only his ad- 
dresses but those of another married man — Sir 
Thomas Wyatt. No woman of a pure heart 
would ever for a moment carry on an intrigue 
with a married man, and the only reason why 
Anne now refused to become the royal mistress 
was her hope of eventually becoming his wife. 
For now Henry began to pretend that his con- 
science was troubled because of his marriage with 
Katharine of Arragon. She had previously mar- 
ried his brother Arthur, and, therefore, his 
marriage was incestuous, he claimed. Though 
Katharine had been to him for seventeen j^ears 
a most dutiful, and lovely, and pious wife, yet 
the royal hypocrite was now ready to cast her 



36 THE LIFE OF 

off on the score of conscience. There were also 
other and important reasons. The queen had 
borne him five children, but only one of the five, 
the Princess Mary, survived. Henry was natu- 
rally anxious to leave the crown to a male heir. 
Katharine was now growing old, and possessed 
little personal beauty, and the doctrines of Lu- 
ther had been received with so much favor in 
England, that there was quite a party who were 
secretly in favor of Henry's divorce from Katha- 
rine, hoping that Anne Boleyn would favor the 
Eeformation. Cardinal Wolsey also favored the 
idea of a divorce, but had not the slightest idea 
that Henry would ever marry Anne. The king 
now announced his determination to Cardinal 
Wolsey of marrying Anne Boleyn, and making 
her Queen of England. It is said that the cardi- 
nal was utterly astonished, and fell upon his 
knees before his generous but terrible master, 
and implored of him to renounce so perilous an 
idea. It may be that he felt already a presenti- 
ment of his fate, for he must have been well 
aware that he had made an enemy of Anne. 
Perceiving that the king was immovably fixed 
in his determination, he at once affected to ac- 
quiesce in it, and offered his services to bring it 



LADY JANE GREY. 37 

about. And now began the dawn of the great 
Eeformation in England. For two years Henry 
importuned the pope to grant a divorcement 
from Katharine, but the pontiff, fearing Charle3 
who had an army at his gates, dared not grant 
the wish of Henry. At length, he appointed a 
commission, consisting of Campeggio and Wolsey 
to examine the whole question. The two legates 
opened their court, and the king and queen ap- 
peared before them. The king answered to his 
name in a bold voice, but the queen said not a 
word. When the citation was repeated she 
threw herself upon her knees before the king, 
and made in tears one of the most pathetic ap- 
peals to his sense of justice. When she rose up 
she walked slowly out of court, and when the 
receiver-general upon whose arm she leant, said, 
" Madam, you are called back;" (for the crier 
said, " Katharine, Queen of England, come again 
into court ;") she replied, " I hear it well enough ; 
but on — on — go you on, for this is no court 
wherein I can have justice ; proceed, therefore." 
Her appeal made a deep impression upon 
those who heard it, and Henry arose and de- 
clared adroitly, that she had always been a gen- 
tle and virtuous wife, and that the wish for a 



88 THE LIFE OF 

divorce was simply with him a matter of con- 
science. Yet previous to this, he had not hesi- 
tated to declare to those in his confidence that 
the queen was deficient in all those qualities 
.which now he gave her credit for possessing. 
Sufch was the duplicity of this blood-thirsty and 
ravenous king. Henry felt almost sure of a ver- 
dict in his favor, but Campeggio took the lead 
and utterly refused to give judgment, referring 
the whole matter to the pope. The Duke of 
Suffolk was much enraged, and striking his fist 
fiercely upon the table, declared that no good 
had ever befallen England since cardinals came 
there. He aimed his blow at Wolsey, who rose 
and with lofty calmness replied to the insult, 
among other things saying, " But for me, simple 
cardinal as I am, you at this moment would have 
no head upon your shoulders," referring to the 
occasion when he had plead the cause of the 
duke before the offended king. But from this 
moment Wolsey's fate was sealed. Cranmer, an 
eminent theologian, proposed that the king ap- 
peal to the universities of Europe — that the mar- 
riage be dissolved without asking leave of thft 
pope. This bold idea was well suited to Henry's 
temperament and desires, and he at once re- 



LADY JANE GREY. 89 

ceived Cranmer into favor, and a change was 
soon perceptible in his affection for the Romish 
rehgion. The introduction of any papal bull 
injto England was prohibited, and not long after- 
wards the parliament abolished the payment of 
first-fruits to the court of Rome. The universi- 
ties of Bologna and Paris pronounced Henry's 
marriage with Katharine to be incestuous, but 
Luther and the German universities utterly re- 
fused to sanction the divorce, Luther declaring 
that he would sooner consent to Henry's mar- 
rying two wives than to his putting away Kath- 
arine to indulge his lust for Anne. 

Annie now dissembled no more, but avowed 
herself Wolsey's enemy, placing in the king's 
hands copies of the letters of the cardinal to 
Rome, which proved very clearly that Wolsey 
was fully committed to the cause of the unfortu- 
nate Queen Katharine. Bills were soon filed 
against him in the court of King's Bench, accus- 
ing him of transgressing the laws, of the land in 
his capacity of pope's legate. The cardinal was 
completely overcome, and offered at once to give 
up the whole of his immense property, provided 
he might retain his rank in the Church. The 
king granted one interview with the prelate, but 



40 THE LIFE OF 

it was the last. It is supposed that Anne ex 
torted a promise from the monarch never to see 
him again. He was banished to Esher, a quiet, 
loneJj, but beautiful place, but Wolsej, whose 
whole life had been spent at court, who had been 
really the head of the nation, pined away amid 
the solitudes of the place. He was well aware 
that Anne was determined upon his complete 
ruin, for he said, " There is a night-crow that pos- 
sesses the royal ear against me !" He was taken 
violently ill, and the news reached the ear of 
Henry. The monarch, iron-hearted as he was, 
could not so soon forget the man who for many 
years had been his dearest friend and counsellor, 
and he therefore sent his physicians to the car- 
dinal and also a ring with his image engraven 
upon it. It was only a sickness of the heart after 
all, for Wolsey upon receiving these tokens from 
his monarch rapidly recovered. He came to Rich- 
mond, very near to court, but Anne grew the 
more determined to end his fortunes. 

He became meek and humble, gave away his 
income to the poor, and grew vastly popular with 
the people. Indeed, it is a significant fact, that 
through his whole career those persons who were 
near the cardinal, in his household, or otlierwise, 



LADY JANE GREY. 41 

became strongly attached to him. ITe was or- 
dered to proceed to York, within his archbish- 
opric. On the 4th of November, 1529, while at 
dinner Wolsey was arrested. The Earl of Nor- 
thumberland drove up into the yard, and Wolsey 
with a pleasant countenance, went out to meet 
him, anticipating no harm. The earl was violent- 
ly agitated, but laying his trembling hand upon 
the old man's shoulder, said, " My lord, I arre^ 
you of high treason !" For a few moments the 
cardinal stood silent, as if completely overcome, 
and then he burst out into cries and lamentations. 
He set out at once with the earl to go to his trial 
and execution. At Sheffield Park, he was ill a 
fortnight with the dysentery, and when he jour- 
nied on, he was feeble and pale. The third 
night he reached Leicester Abbey, and when the 
monks received him, he said to the abbot, 
" Father, I am come to lay my botnes among 
you." They carried him to the bed from 
which he never rose. When he was dying, 
he said to the lieutenant of the Tower, who had 
his person in charge : 

"Master Kingston, I pray you have me com- 
mended most humbly to his majesty, and beseech 
him, on my behalf, to call to his gracious remem 



i2 THELIFEOF 

brance all matters tiiat have passed between us 
from tne beginning, especially respecting Queen 
Katharine and himself, and then shall his con- 
science know whether I have offended him or not. 
He is a prince of most royal courage, and hath 
a princely heart — for rather than miss or want 
any part of his will, he will endanger one half of 
his kingdom. And I do assure you I have often 
kneeled before him in his privy-chamber, some- 
times for three hours together, to persuade him 
from his appetite, and could not prevail. And 
Master Kingston, this I will say — had I but 
served God as diligently as I served the king, he 
would not have given me over in my gray hairs. 
Ilowbeit, this is my just reward for my pains and 
diligence, not regarding my service to God, but 
only my duty to my prince," 

Thus perished this gorgeous churchman, who 
had so long been the glory of his church and his 
country. When the news came to Henry of his 
death, he manifested little sorrow — proving that 
his heart was hard and cruel, and without feel- 
ing. Anne Boleyn's revengeful purpose was ac- 
complished, and she now contented herself with 
<jontemptuous treatment of the Queen Katharine. 

At this time, Cromwell, the son of a black- 



LADY JANE GREY. 43 

smitli at Putney, came into favor with Henry, 
He was a man of great talents, and was destined 
to play an important part in the Reformation. 
Cromwell not only advised the king to deny the 
Pope, but to assert his own supremacy over the 
Church. The convocations of York and Canter- 
bury, declared the marriage null and void, 
About this time Henry sent orders for Queen 
Katharine to leave Windsor Castle. She retired 
to her own estate at Ampthill, and never saw 
the king again. Cranmer was made Archbishop 
of Canterbury, and Henry was fully resolved 
upon putting away Katharine, without the Pope's 
consent. On the morning of the 25th of January, 
1533, he was privately married to Anne, and a 
few months after, Cranmer held an archiepisco- 
pal court, and declared Katharine's marriage to 
be null and void. Anne was crowned on a beau- 
tiful day — the first of June — amid splendors and 
pageants, and thus at last she stood in that bril- 
liant but dangerous position, which she had been 
longing for so many years. She was Queen of 
England! She had cast beneath her feet the 
neck of the proudest prelate England ever sav/. 
She had walked right royally over the heart of 
a poor, persecuted woman, the daughter and wife 



44 THE LIFE OP 

of a king : and now was at the sunamit of lier for- 
tunes ! But already the throne upon which she 
sat began to tremble — already the grim monarch 
whom she pretended to love, was losing his pas- 
sion for her, now that his desires were satiated. 
In September, Anne was with child, and Henry 
was confident, from his consultations with the 
astrologers, that she would give birth to a prince ; 
but on the 7th of that month, to his great cha- 
grin, she became the mother to a princess. Yet 
this girl, so despised, became a greater monarch 
than her sire — for it was Elizabeth, By act of 
Parliament, the child was made heir to the crown, 
Mary, the daughter of Katharine, thus being bas- 
tardized. The Pope annulled the new marriage, 
and threatened to excommunicate Henry ; but 
that monarch already had declared himself the 
head of the Church in his kingdom, and the 
breach thus opened between him and the Pope 
grew daily larger ; the principles of the Refor- 
mation spread rapidly among the people, and the 
new doctrines were openly preached. Among 
those who refused to acknowledge Henry's su- 
premacy in religious matters, was Sir Thomas 
More. He was, next to Wolsey, perhaps the 
most ' '' istrious man of the age, and was far 



LADY JANE GREY. 45 

purer and holier in his life than that prelate. No 
one of his enemies ever spoke a word against the 
beautiful character which he had always borne. 
He had been lord chancellor, but resigned his 
trust. He was now old and gray-haaved, and was 
worn out with faithful service to his country and 
king. He was arrested and thrown into the 
Tower. In vain did the cruel king endeavr? to 
get him to agree to his right to supremacy in the 
Church — the conscientious old man would not do 
that to save his life To his persecutors he re- 
plied : 

" I am the king's true, faithful subject, and 
daily beadsman. I pray for his highness, and all 
his, and all the realm. I do nothing harm ; I 
say no harm ; I think none harm ; and wish 
everybody good : and if this be not enough to 
keep a man alive, in good faith I long not to live. 
I am dying already ; and since I came here have 
been divers times in the case that I thought to 
die within one hour. And I thank our Lord, I 
never was sorry for it, but rather sorry when I 
saw the pang past ; and therefore my poor body 
is at the king's pleasure. Would to God my 
death might do him good." 

Anne was, without doubt, the one who per- 



46 THE LIFE OF 

suaded Henrj to the murder of this godly man. 
When More's daughter Margaret came to him in 
his prison, he asked : 

"How is Queen Anne?" 

"In faith, father, never better," she replied; 
" there is nothing else in the court but dancing 
and sporting.'* 

"Never better!" said the old man; "Alas! 
Meg, alas ! it pitieth me to think into what mis- 
ery, p»or sou], she will shortly come. These 
dances of hers will prove such dances, that she 
will spurn our heads off like foot-balls, but it will 
not be long before her head will dance the like 
dance !" 

This was a remarkable prediction, and how 
true it proved, all readers of history know. Af- 
ter a years imprisonment, More was brought to 
trial for high treason. He was pale and ema- 
ciated, yet made a most eloquent defence, declar- 
ing that he had never opposed the king's will, 
and in the matter of his religious supremacy had 
simply kept silence. But he was a doomed man, 
and sentence was proaounced against him. Upon 
his return to the Tower, his daughter Margaret 
forced her way to him, and clasping her arms 
around his neck, wept like a child. He bade her 



LADY JANE GEEY. 47 

a last farewell amid the sobs of the spectators. 
"When he approached the scaffold for execution, 
he was calm as the pure skj over his head. His 
wit did not forsake him to the last, for he said, 
when told that the king had mercifully com- 
muted his sentence of being quartered, to simple 
decapitation : 

" Grod preserve all my friends from such royal 
favors !" 

When the news came to Henry of his death, 
he was engaged in some sport with Anne. He 
stopt quickly, and with a gloomy frown, said, 
" Thou art the cause of this man's death ;" and 
leaving the room, he retired to his own apart- 
ment in great agitation. 

The news of More's downfall spread a gloom 
over the whole of Europe. Said the Emperor 
GHiarles, " We would rather have lost the 
fairest city in our dominions than such a coun- 
sellor." 

The queen now began to manifest a change 
of character. The celebrated Latimer had it is 
said great influence over her conduct, he hourly 
pointing out to her the many faults in her char- 
acter. It may be too that she began to anticipate 
a change in the king's affections. About this 



4:8 THE LIFE OF 

time Katharine expired, and Anne felt Lerself to 
be without a rival. 

But not long after she became aware that the 
only rival which she ever need fear had foi 
months been exceedingly intimate with the king. 
In the beautiful and artful Jane Seymour, she 
possessed indeed a rival whom she had just oc- 
casion to fear, for Jane was to be the cause of 
her downfall. It is said that upon Anne's enter- 
ing the king's room one day unexpectedly, she 
saw Jane Seymour seated upon the king's knee, 
receiving his caresses with the utmost composure. 
If a stroke of lightning had laid her royal hus- 
band dead at her feet, she oould not have been 
more shocked, and she gave way to violent an- 
ger.. The king fearing that his hopes of an heir 
would be cut short, tried to calm her, but in 
vain, and on January 29th, she gave birth to a 
dead son. Henry was beside himself with passion 
at the res.ult, and stalked into her chamber, and 
taxed her with imprudence. She courageously, 
but Yery imprudently laid the blame upon " that 
wench Jane Seymour." Very slowly she revived 
in health, but never in spirits. Finding it im- 
possible to send away her rival from court, she 
chose to spend the most of her time in the quiet 



LADY JANE GREY. 49 

shades of Greenwich Park. While there she 
must have thought remorsefully upon the fate of 
poor Katharine of Arragon, and of others whose 
necks she had brought to the block. She was 
very sad, perceiving that her influence over the 
king was at an end. One day while walking 
upon the banks of the Thames, she met Sir 
William Kingston, lieutenant^ e^^ the Tower, who 
informed her that she was' arrested on a charge 
of adultery. She fell upon her knees in the 
greatest agony, crying, " O Lord, help me ! as I 
am guiltless, of that whereof I am charged." She 
asked, if she was to go to a dungeon — but the 
lieutenant replied, no ; she should have the cham- 
ber which she occupied at her coronation. This 
cruel reference to her days of triumph quite over- 
came the poor queen. " 0, where is my poor 
brother ?" she exclaimed, and " 0, my mother I 
thou wilt die of sorrow." 

That Anne had been too free in her conduct 
with certain persons cannot be denied, but no 
one can believe her guilty of the frightful charge 
against her. It was trumped up by Henry mere 
ly to get rid of her, that he might marry Jane 
Seymour. Anne was surrounded with spies, and 
all her delirious ravings were reported against 
4 



50 THELIFEOF 

her. The gentlemen with whom she was charged 
of committing adultery — five in number — were 
likewise placed in the Tower. Under the tor- 
tures of the rack one of them, an ignoble fellow, 
confessed the charge. His name was Mark 
Smeaton, and he was a poor musician ; and the 
idea that the queen had ever been guilty of im- 
proper conduct with him is wholly preposterous. 
His confession was made while dying with tor- 
tures and in the hope of a pardon. From Her 
apartment in the Tower, Anne wrote a most 
pathetic letter to Henry, but it only inflamed him 
the more against her. On the 10th of May, she 
was indicted of high treason together with the 
five persons charged with her of the ignominious 
crime. Four of them persisted in declaring the 
queen innocent, and still were convicted. Mark 
Smeaton to save his head and himself from 
further pain, confessed, put his name to the doc- 
ument, and then had his head cut off that he 
might make no after confessions or retractions. 
Strange and horrible as it may seem, the queen's 
own brother was one of the four persons charged 
with improper intimacy with Anne, his own 
wife, a wicked and bold woman, appearing as 
evidence asfainst him. 



LADY JANE GREY. 51 

It is hardly necessary to say that the queen 
was found guilty ; for whatever the blood-thirsty 
king determined he was sure to accomplish. She 
was condemned to be beheaded or burned, as the 
king pleased. Anne heard the sentence without 
a moan, a word, or a change of countenance, bul 
in a few moments clasped her hands and raising 
her eyes to heaven, said : '' Oh Father ! oh Cre- 
ator ! thou who art the way, the life, and the 
truth, knowest whether I have deserved this 
death." Turning to the judges, she added a few 
words, and in a calm manner left the court. The 
spectators had not a doubt of her innocence, for 
no evidence was there against her. 

Cranmer at this time pronounced her marriage 
null and void, and that it always had been so — 
thus bastardizing Elizabeth, who afterwards be- 
came so powerful. The ground of Cranmer's 
decision was that Anne previous to her marriage 
with Henry was engaged to Lord Percy. While 
awaiting her execution she seems at times to 
have been bereft of her senses. She asked the 
lieutenant of the Tower why the execution did 
not take place sooner, that the pain might be 
over. He replied that the pain could not be 
much it was so subtle, to which she replied; 



52 THE LIFE OF 

laughing heartily : " I hear the executioner is 
very good, and I have a little neck." She wrote 
Botne verses, of which the following is a sample : 

"Oh death rock me asleep, 
Bring on my quiet rest, 
Let pass my very guiltless ghost, 

Out of my careful breast. 
Ring out the doleful knell, 
Let its sound my death tell ; 
For I must die, 
There is no remedy. 
For now I die !" 

Henry chose that Anne should be beheaded, 
and sent to Calais for a French executioner of 
good repute. ■ The crownless queen was informed 
of this circumstance. All strangers were driven 
from the Tower, Henry being well aware that 
the execution was an awful outrage upon justice 
or even common decency. To the last Anne 
asserted her entire innocence of the crimes im- 
puted to her. Her message to the king will evei 
be remembered for its sarcastic bitterness : " Com- 
mend me to his majesty," said she, " and tell 
him he hath been ever constant in his career of 
advancing me; from a private gentlewoman he 
made me a marchioness, from a marchioness a 
queen, and now he hath left no higher degree of 



LADY JANE GREY. 53 

honor, he gives my innocency the crown of 
martyrdom." 

Anne Boleyn was beheaded at twelve o'clock, 
the boon of the 19th day of May, She was 
dressed in black damask, with a large white cape 
round her neck, and on her head a velvet hood. 
Her eye was bright, and a flush was in her 
cheeks, and she looked, it is said, fearfully beau- 
tiful. Scattered about the scaffold were some of 
the poor woman's enemies, but upon seeing 
them, she simply remarked : " I am come here 
to die ; not to accuse my enemies." She asked 
the lieutenant to wait the signal of death until 
she could speak a few words to those around 
her, after which with her own hands she took 
off her hat and collar and lay down to the block. 
Her last words were, " O Lord God, have pity on 
my soul." She refused to have her eyes ban- 
daged, and, it is said, after her head was severed 
from the body, the eyes and lips were seen to 
move. Thus ended the life of this woman, who 
from an humble station rose to be Queen of Eng- 
land — but to mount still higher — to the scaffold. 

The relation which the history of Katharine 
and Anne bears to the fortunes of Lady Jane 
Grey will in the course of our narrative become 



54 THE LIFE OF 

very evident to the reader ; it will not be amisjg 
to notice here that already King Henry by pro- 
nouncing his marriage with Katharine incestuous, 
of course, rendered the offspring, the Princess 
Mary, illegitimate ; and by the decision of Cran- 
mer that the marriage with Anne Boleyn was 
" always''' null and void, in consequence of her en- 
gagement to Percy, of course the Princess Eliza- 
beth was placed in the same unpleasant position. 
At this time, therefore, provided Henry's unjust 
decisions were acquiesced in, the legitimate heir 
to the English crown must have been found in 
the person of Henry's sisters, or one of their 
descendants. 

The Reformation at this time was gaining 
ground with considerable rapidity ; not that 
there was as yet a pure Protestantism in Eng- 
land, for such was not the case till Henry was 
laid in his tomb ; but the royal example of dis- 
respect to the Pope was almost universally fol- 
lowed, and the people examined the religious 
disputes for themselves. Parliament, at the in- 
stigation of the king, suppressed all religious 
houses having an income of less than £200 a 
year ; the lands, buildings, rents and all appur- 
tenances falling into the king's exchequer, and 



LADY JANE GREY. 

amounting to over a million of pounds sterling. 
Still later, the larger monasteries and the colleges- 
likewise fell into the hands of Henry, who seemed 
never to be satisfied with his income. 

The most momentous act of the century, per- 
haps, occurred about this time — the translation 
of the Holy Scriptures into the English tongue 
for the use of the people. Isolated copies of the 
Bible had for several years been very carefully ' 
circulated among the curious and learned, or 
those who favored the principles of the German 
reformers; but until now it was reckoned an of- 
fence for a layman to peruse so dangerous a book. 
It is said that Anne Boleyn, in Wolsey's time, 
possessed a copy which the prelate took away 
from the hands of a fiiend, to whom she had lent 
it, but which Anne coaxed Henry to oblige the 
cardinal to return to its owner. But now copies 
of the new translation were printed in Paris, and 
were attached by a chain to the reading-desk of 
every church in England, so that every man who 
knew how to read, could peruse the holy book. 



CHAPTER III. 

BIRTH OF LADY JANE GREY. HER FATHER. HIS COUNTRY SEAT.— • 

LADY jane's early HISTORY. CUSTOMS OF THE AGE. HER AP- 
PEARANCE AT COURT AS MAID TO KATHARINE PARR. — JANE SEY- 
MOUR. king's MARRIAGE. BIRTH OF PRINCE EDWARD. DE.\TH 

OF THE QUEKN. HENRY MARRIES ANNE OF CLEVES. DESERTS 

HER. MARRIES KATHARINE HOWARD. HER DISGRACE AND EXE- 
CUTION. 

Having hastily sketched the history of Henry 
YIIL, previous to the times of Lady Jane Grey, 
we now come to the event of her birth, which oc- 
curred in the year 1537. Henry, Marquis of 
Dorset, the father of our heroine, we have before 
remarked, was not a man whose character in all 
its shades can command our admiration ; yet if 
we may rely upon the statements of contempo- 
rary writers, he was possessed of remarkable per- 
sonal courage, and was generally quite generous, 
though he was troubled with fits of meanness, in 
one of which he treated his mother disgracefully. 
He was a man of some ambition, yet was much 
fonder of retirement and the quiet joys to be 



LADY J ANE dREY. 57 

found in the bosom of his family, than of all the 
brilliant shows of the capital or court. He prided 
himself in keeping up the dignified magnificence 
of the ancient nobility upon his own estate, rather 
than in filling a conspicuous position at court. 
He resided, at the time Lady Jane was born, at 
his seat of Bradgate, in Leicestershire. It was 
situated on the borders of the celebrated Charn- 
wood forest, about four miles from the town of 
Leicester. The building upon the estate was 
large and fine, and was constructed by Lady 
Jane's grandfather. It was built principally of 
brick, was square, with four turrets at each cor- 
ner, and was a very commodious building. The 
park attached to it was extensive, being six miles 
in compass, and beautiful, and was surrounded 
by a high wall. On one side of the garden there 
ran a beautiful little stream. This stream was 
used to turn a mill on the family estate. The es- 
tate was of large extent, and was well wooded. 
Upon it there was a castle, called Groby Castle, 
situate about ten miles from Bradgate, which, 
but for the fact that it was in a ruinous condition, 
would undoubtedly have been the family resi. 
dence, — though it was originally constructed with 
an eye to defence from foes without, and conse- 



58 THE LIFE OF 

quently was hardly suited to the age. The for- 
est of Charnwood adjoined the family residence, 
and was more than twenty miles in extent, and 
was principally owned by Lady Jane's father, 
which proves him to have been a man of large 
possessions. It was called the waste, it being en- 
tirely destitute of population. The park of Bew- 
manor also belonged to the Marquis of Dorset, 
also the Burley park. By exchange of lands 
with his sovereign, the marquis came into pos- 
session of an immense tract of land about Brad- 
gate, upon which there resided but few people, 
and those principally his own retainers. It can- 
not be uninteresting to the reader to contemplate 
for a moment this scene of the childhood of Lady 
Jane Grey. For here she spent all her early 
years, not, as we know of, leaving it at all until 
her seventh year. She was completely isolated 
from the great world without. Her home was 
one of the grandest in England, yet in the bosom 
of a wilderness. It was in the heart of England, 
and for miles around there was nothing but unin 
habited fields and forests. There were thousands 
of acres of grand old woods, and square miles of 
open country, upon which there were waving 
crops of grass and grain. The solitude would have 



LADY JANE GREY. 59 

been painful to some, and yet to a girl of Lady 
Jane's disposition, was very pleasant. Upon the 
estate, indeed, in the family park, there was a fine 
hill, from u hich the view must have been exqui- 
sitely beautiful, for from it you can see into seven 
counties of England. 

The customs of that aje were, of course, far 
different from those of our time, yet there was 
enough of refinement and splendor to be entirely 
compatible with comfort. There were few books, 
no newspapers, and the amusements common to 
all classes were of the rougher sort, consisting 
principally of field sports. The apartments of 
the Bradgate residence were not fitted up with all 
the luxuriousness of the present age, yet there 
were in use at that time many of the articles of 
furniture which we consider indispensable. There 
were carpets, mirrors, easy chairs, handsomely 
carved tables and bureaus ; there were clocks — 
but at this time, the fork was unknown at the 
table. The dinner was a meal around which a 
good deal of rigid etiquette was thrown, as at the 
present day among the English nobility. The 
gates of the castle were customarily closed, and 
the inhabitants, residents and guests, sat down to 
the table or tables according to rank and position. 



60 THE LIFE OF 

The dinner generall_y consisted of various kinds 
of meat, beef, mutton, and venison ; there was 
usually also a good supply of fruits, native and 
foreign, as well as wine of several kinds. The 
manners of the age were undoubtedly coarser 
than those of our own, but there was a gorgeous- 
ness in the housekeeping of the leading families 
of the kingdom rarely seen now. The number 
of retainers connected with some of the houses 
of the old noblemen was large enough to consti- 
tute a respectably sized village of the present 
day. 

But it is time for us to return to Lady Jane. 
Little is known respecting her earliest years, but 
the fact that she resided at Bradgate. She was 
baptized with a good deal of ceremony at the 
little church of Bradgate, the whole family with- 
out doubt being present. The E,ev. Mr. Harding 
was at that time the family chaplain, and bap- 
tized Jane at the font which stood in the middle 
of the church, with a canopy hung over it. This 
same Harding became a Protestant, and then re 
canted and fell back into the Romish Church. 
The family of the Marquis of Dorset was now 
often at court, but Lady Jane was too young to 
accompany them, and she was closely attached 



LADY JANE GREY. 61 

to her studies. At a very early age her parents 
saw that she possessed an uncommon desire for 
knowledge as well as a remarkable capacity for 
it, and having no sons, they gave her every op- 
portunity for storing her young mind with learn- 
ing. Lady Jane was exceedingly fortunate in 
possessing the acquaintance of Eoger Ascham, 
whose family resided not far from Bradgate. He 
was for years the preceptor of Lady Elizabeth, 
and taught Lady Jane the art of writing, and 
from him she gained a beautiful hand, he being 
an excellent chirographer. Lady Jane's precep- 
tor was John Aylmer, afterwards Bishop of Lon- 
don, a man of excellent parts, and devoted to the 
Protestant religion. It is said, however, that 
Lady Jane received her earliest impressions in 
favor of Protestantism from Harding, who be- 
came afterwards an apostate. She rapidly stored 
her mind with knowledge, becoming a proficient 
in Latin, Greek, Chaldaic, Arabic, French and 
Italian. She wrote beautifully, and was skilful 
in instrumental music. She also studied philoso- 
phy, could read Plato in the original Greek with 
ease, and was delighted with Demosthenes. Under 
the guidance, of Aylmer she became a devoted 
child of God, being much fonder of her bible 



6-2 THE LIFE OF 

and of gaining religious knowledge than of pur- 
suing her study of the sciences and languages. 
She was not, as some may imagine, a blue-stock- 
ing, for she was pleasant and attractive in her 
manners and conversation. That she was preco- 
cious cannot be denied, but there was nothing 
unpleasant in her advanced condition of intellect. 
Her voice was low and sweet, and she could sing 
very beautifully. That she owed her purity of 
life to the piety which was a conspicuous trait 
in her character, we have no doubt, for it was 
her subsequent fortune to reside long at a court 
which was anything but virtuous, and she was 
for years surrounded by unprincipled men and 
women, but not one of her enemies ever whispered 
a word against the exquisite loveliness and 
chasteness of her character. 

The Marquis and Marchioness of Dorset treated 
her with considerable severity, yet she was al- 
lowed to cultivate the acquaintance of certain 
visitors of the family, and the one for whom she 
seemed to have a special affection was the dowa- 
ger Lady Latimer, who afterwards became Queen 
of England, and still later, wife of Lord Seymour 
of Sudley, lord admiral of the king^dom. 

When only seven years old Lady Jane was in 



LADY JANE GREY. 63 

the habit of accompanying her parents to court, 
and, it is said, that at this age she was much ad- 
mired for her beauty, her accomplishments, and 
her gentleness. She here saw the Brandons with 
whom she was connected, her mother being the 
daughter of the Duke of Suffolk, who died in 
1545. When Lady Jane was nine years old she 
filled some office at court in the chamber of 
Queen Katharine Parr, and as her career hence- 
forth is intimately connected with the great men 
and women of the age, it will be necessary for 
us to recur to the general history of those times. 
The very morning after the day on which 
Anne Boleyn, was beheaded Henry VIII. mar- 
ried Jane Seymour. He was, it is said, attired 
for the chase when the signal gun from the Tower 
announced to him that Anne was beheaded. He 
started up with joy, exclaiming, " Ha ! ha ! — the 
deed is done ! Uncouple the hounds and away!" 
Jane Seymour was the oldest daughter of Sir 
John Seymour of Wiltshire, and had seven 
brothers and sisters. Her brother Edward after- 
ward became Protector, and another brother, 
Thomas, was Lord Admiral during the reign of 
Kdward VI. Jane is represented by all historic 
ans as being very beautiful^ but the pictures of 



64 THE LIFE OP 

her are bj no means flattering, for they represent 
her to be coarse and ahnost entirely devoid of 
beauty. She certainly was devoid of all gentle- 
ness and goodness, or she would not have con- 
sented to wed Henry the day after his former 
wife was beheaded. The historians may call her 
beautiful, discreet and wise, but she certainly 
was not good and virtuous: if she had been, her 
heart would have been with the murdered Anne 
instead of being filled with joy at her marriage. 
In the course of English history there is no trans- 
action which bears a more hideous aspect than 
that of the king's sudden marriage with Jane 
Seymour, almost before the heart of his former 
wife was cold, and it will ever be remembered to 
the disgrace of Jane that she willingly consented 
to the marriage. In the month of June Henry 
caused Parliament to pass a new act of succes- 
sion, entailing the crown upon such issue as he 
might have by Jane Seymour, and Lady Mary 
about this time purchased peace with her father 
by signing her name to a paper which declared 
herself to be by birth illegitimate, her mother's 
marriage with Henry being incestuous. Of this 
deed of humiliation we shall say more in the 
proper place. 



LADY JANE GREY. 65 

On the 12th of October, Jane gave birth to 
Prince Edward, and, after lingering in extreme 
pain and sickness for nearly a fortnight, expired. 
One cause of her death was the ceremony and 
pomp which were thrown about the baptism of 
the infant heir to the crown, and the king did 
not treat her with the gentleness which any wife 
in her situation should receive. When apprized 
of her death he did indeed manifest some sorrow 
but it was slight, and he very soon forgot it in 
the pleasure of having a son and heir. In 1538, 
the king contemplated marriage with Anne of 
Cleves. Her portrait had been sent to Henry 
through ambassadors, and principally through 
the influence of Cromwell, a marriage was agreed 
upon. Anne set out for England, and landed at 
Deal, on the 27th of December. She rested at 
Dover Castle until Monday. Henry was so 
anxious to see her that he could not contain him- 
self, and went in great haste to meet her. But 
when he saw her he was much disappointed, and 
Anne was also disappointed in him. He wa? 
full of anger at Cromwell, who came near losing 
bis life at once. The king abused him ferocious- 
ly for marrying him " to a great Flanders mare," 
and demanded that he should instantly devise 
5 



6Q THELIFEOF 

some means to break off the marriage. The pool 
minister was in a sad predicament, and religious 
perplexities, added to his present troubles, has- 
tened his destruction. 

Henry finding it impossible to evade the mar- 
riage, at last consented that the usual ceremonies 
should take place, and accordingly with great 
splendor they were married on the fifth of Janu- 
ary. A few months after, the king saw the pret- 
ty Katharine Howard, and was the more dissatis- 
fied with his condition. At last he determined 
upon a divorce, and a convocation of the clergy 
was called, which body, without a dissenting 
voice, pronounced his marriage with Anne null 
and void. The grounds for the divorce were, 
that she had been previously contracted to the 
Prince of Lorraine, and that the king did not 
love her, never had loved her, and that there 
were no hopes of issue by her. In a few weeks 
Henry was again married — and this time to 
Katharine Howard. Her history is one of so 
much tragical interest, that we will recapitulate 
the prominent events in her singular career. 
She was the daughter of Lord Edmund Howard, 
and had the great misfortune to lose her mother 
at an early age — the greatest misfortune indeed 



LADY JANE GEEY. 67 

which could have befallen the poor girl. Lord 
Howard left the motherless Katharine in the 
care of his step-mother, the dowager-duchess 
of Norfolk. This lady was careless of her charge, 
and even went so far as to allow her to asso- 
ciate with vile and depraved women in her 
extreme youth, and Katharine became so cor- 
rupted, that at twelve years of age she was in 
love with a low-born fellow, named Henry 
Manox, and their in.'macy was carried to the 
borders of criminality. She about this time 
formed an acquaintance with Mary Lassells, an 
artful and wicked woman, who was destined to 
have a ruinous influence over her. The intrigue 
with Manox was broken off; but still later, a 
young gentleman, Francis Derham, a favorite 
with the old duchess, fell in love with Katha- 
rine, and through the help of Mary Lassells, con- 
trived to gain access to her and press his suit. 
That Katharine loved him, there can be no 
doubt, for they exchanged love-tokens. She was 
neglected by her kinsfolk, and was so influencei 
by the love of Derham, that she finally became 
engaged to marry him. He asked permission to 
call her "wife," and she replied that "she was 
contented to have it so." If this were all that 



68 THE LIFE OF 

appears against Katharine Howard in the pages 
of history, we might accuse' her of imprudence, 
but could not impeach her integrity. But with- 
out the counsels of a mother, she was left to com- 
mit not merely improprieties, but crimes. Her 
grandmother saw that she was locked in her bed- 
chamber every night, as the chroniclers of that 
age gravely inform us, but the keys were stolen 
privily away, and Derham made nocturnal visits 
to Katharine. " He would bring strawberries, 
apples, wine, and other things to make cheer 
with," afterwards confessed Katharine Howard. 
At length the news came to the old duchess — it 
could no longer be concealed that Katharine, 
young and passionate, had been seduced by Der- 
ham, or that they had acted towards each other 
as husband and wife, not scrupling at all at ad- 
dressing each other by those terms of relation- 
ship, Derham was obliged to fly, and her words 
to him proved that she loved him, for she said, 
with the tears streaming down her f.heeks, "Thou 
wilt never live to say to me, ^ Thou hast 
swerved.'" Katharine now was placed under 
the care of women of virtue and principle, and 
the story of her imprudence, on account o* her 
f'jrtremr youth, was hushed up or forgotte.n »nd 



LADYJANEGREY. b\f 

what is a little strange, as she became further 
developed in age and character, she became 
modest, maidenly, and really virtuous in her life. 
She came to court, and Henry soon loved her. 
She was possessed of considerable beauty, and 
was exquisitely graceful in her manners. She 
was small and slender, and Henry loved her for 
a time more passionately than he had ever before 
loved a woman. They were married, and the 
king caressed her, flattered her, and made great 
demonstrations of his affection for her. Upon 
her bracelet was the device : " Non aultre volonte 
que le stenne" — " No other will than his." But 
amid the intoxicating splendors and pleasures of 
her position, poor Katharine felt that a sword 
was suspended only by a hair over her neck 
During the first few months of her wedded life 
rumors of her old imprudence began to creep 
through the purlieus of the court. She must 
have been in an agony of torment all the while, 
and still forced to appear happy. At last Katha- 
rine sealed her fate, by appointing her old para- 
mour, Derham, private secretary to herself. That 
she did it to seal his lips in reference to the early 
portion of her liie, as a matter of policy, hoping 
thereby to save her reputation for honor — to save 



70 THE LIFE OF 

her life indeed, we entertain no doubt. She 
shortly after had a long private interview with 
her cousin, Thomas Culpepper, to whom at one 
time, before the king saw her, it was thought she 
would be married, and made him a present at his 
departure. The king, meanwhile, was so fond 
of Katharine that he omitted nothing which 
could give her pleasure. On the 31st day of Oc- 
tober, a paper containing an account of Katha- 
rine's early misdemeanor, was put into the king's 
hands by Cranmer. Mar}'- Lassells had revealed 
the dreadful truth — had most wickedly betrayed 
her old friend and mistress. Henry was sur- 
prised, and treated the whole matter at first as if 
it were not founded in truth. But he sent for 
Lassells, the brother of Mary, to whom she had 
related the sad story, and he was firm in his state- 
ment in reference to the unfortunate queen. Der- 
ham was arrested, and confessed that he had 
been engaged to Katharine, that they had lived 
together as man and wife, but also most solemn- 
ly declared that not the slightest familiarity had 
taken place between them, since her marriage 
with the king. When Henry heard the confes- 
sion of Derham, he burst into tears. He loved 
Katharine as devotedly as it was possible for so 



LADY JANE GREY. 71 

gross a being to love anybody. The queen went 
into convulsions. She was placed under arrest, 
and Henry retired to Oatlands, during her exami- 
nation. There was no difficulty in proving a 
precontract^ which M'ould have been sufficient 
cause for a divorce, but not sufficient to warrant 
the execution of the queen. Therefore the coun- 
cil determined on a charge of adultery with her 
cousin, Thomas Culpepper. Both Derhara and 
Culpepper were arraigned for high treason, and 
condemned to death. They made no confessions 
which implicated the queen since her marriage, 
though they were put to the torture. Parliament 
passed an act of attainder against the queen, and 
several others, among which was the Lady Eoch- 
ford. Katharine was, however, by this time, for 
she had lain in prison several months, weary of 
life. She was penitent, and now looked forward 
to the future — to another sphere of existence, for 
comfort. She freely confessed that before her 
marriage, when she was a young and thoughtless 
girl, she had been guilty with Derham, but thai; 
she had been a true wife and faithful to the king. 
When her confessor told her to prepare for death, 
she replied : "As to the act, my reverend lord, 
for which I stand condemned, God and his holj/ 



72 LADY JANE GREY. 

angels I take to witness upon my soul's salvation, 
that I die guiltless, never having so abused my 
sovereign's bed. What other sins and follies of 
youth I have committed, I will not excuse ; but 
I am assured that for them God hath brought 
this punishment upon me, and will, in his mercy,' 
remit them, for which, I pray you, pray with 
me unto his Son and my Saviour Christ." She 
refused to admit that she was engaged to Der- 
ham — there was therefore no way for severing 
the marriage-tie between the king and herself, 
except by her death. She was allowed only two 
days to prepare for execution, after the bill of 
attainder had become a law ; but she did not 
wish longer time. Upon the scaffold she was 
meek, yet courageous, and perished in a right 
queenly manner. In the opinion of many at that 
time, she was innocent of the mam charge against 
her, and consequently she received much sym- 
pathy. But the age was corrupt, and the people 
so accustomed to blood, that they were amused 
by such tragedies. 



CHAPTER IV. 

KATHARINE PARR. — SIR THOMAS SEYMOUR. KATHARINE MARRIKS 

HENRY Vni. LADY JANE GREY. KATHARINlc's NARROW ESCAPE. 

DEATH OF THE KING. EDWAVRD I.— ^SOMERSET.^ADMIRAL SEi'- 

MOUR MARRIES KATHARINE PARR. PROJECT OF MARRYING LADY 

JANE GREY TO THE KING. CONDUCT OF ELIZABETH. DEATH OF 

KATHARINE PARR. L.VDY JANE GREY HER CHIEF MOURNER. 

Katharine Parr, the last wife of Henry YIIL, 
was a woman of excellent understanding and true 
piety, and the first Protestant queen of England. 
Her history is so intimately connected with that 
of Lady Jane Grey, that she will figure some- 
what prominently in our pages. She directed 
the studies of Lady Jane, and was ever to her a 
kind friend and adviser. She also directed the 
studies of Edward YI. and Queen Elizabeth, and 
from her those illustrious personages derived 
their love for learning. 

Katharine Parr was the daughter of Sir Thos. 
Parr, and was married at an early age to Lord 
Borough, a widower with several adult children. 



74 THELIFEOF 

He lived but a short time after his marriage, and 
Katharine was left a widow, though she was but 
fifteen years of age. Before her twentieth year, 
she married again, and this time the widower, 
Lord Latimer. While the wife of Latimer, Katha- 
rine was often at court, and exercised quite an in- 
fluence over Henry YIII. In 1543, or a year 
after Katharine Howard was executed. Lord Lat- 
imer expired, and Katharine Parr was left for 
the second time a widow. She was not only very 
learned, very good and pious, but she was very 
beautiful and possessed great wealth. She was 
connected with some of the first families of the 
kingdom also, and was considered a prize. Al- 
though governed by strictly religious principles, 
yet this charming widow was by no means insen- 
sible to the attractions of a brave, handsome man. 
She was sought in marriage by Sir Thomas Sey- 
mour, who was brother to Jane Seymour, and 
therefore uncle to Prince Edward. 

He was a favorite with his brother-in-law, the 
king; was gay, handsome, and brave, given to 
splendor in dress, was a fine courtier, yet he fell 
in love with the modest, studious, retiring widow, 
and what is perhaps strange, Katharine recipro 
cated his affection. Beneath all her gentle piety 



LADY JANE GREY. 75 

tbere was a spice of romance wliicli Jends addi- 
tional beauty to her character. Seymour was an 
anti-papist, and this suited Katharine, and per- 
haps first led her to feel an interest in him ; but 
soon by his charms of person and manner, he 
completely won her heart. She had fully re- 
solved upon marrying him^ when alas! another 
suitor demanded her hand — a suitor who was not 
accustomed to brook a refusal. When the young 
widow heard of Henry's intention, she was hor- 
ror-struck, and even told him that " it were bet- 
ter to be his mistress than his wife," so certain 
was any woman of death who should marry him. 
She was afraid of the royal murderer, but she 
also loved Seymour, and hated to give him up. 
He, however, retired from the contest, and Katha- 
rine became Queen of England. At this time, 
Henry was enormously fat, and was full of dis- 
ease, so that he could scarcely walk. A more 
disgusting object, probably, the whole kingdom 
could not produce. His wife was beautiful, wise, 
pious, and what was to the king a matter of great 
importance, she was wonderfully skilful as a 
nurse. The Protestant party in England took 
courage, for it was known that Katharine wad 
heartily the enemy of Catholicism, being in her 



76 THE LIFE OF 

religious opinions on that subject far in advance 
of her royal husband. She was, too, an accom- 
plished scholar, yet knew passing well how to 
merge the scholar into the wife. She could dis- 
course most learnedly upon questions of science 
or religion, but she could also nurse her husband, 
care for her household, and train her step-chil- 
dren to love learning and piety. One of her first 
acts was to endeavor to reconcile Henry to liis 
children, Mary and Elizabeth. She taught these 
princesses to translate passages from the Scrip- 
tures, and Elizabeth imbibed a love for the prin- 
ciples of the Eeformation, which never afterward 
decayed. 

Shortly after her marriage, Katharine wrote 
her celebrated book — " The Lamentations of a 
Sinner." It is written eloquently, and was at 
that time a fine specimen of composition. The 
king showed to her in many ways that he at least 
partially appreciated her devotion to him, for he 
granted her any favors which she asked, and 
thanked God he had so good a wife. He was 
full of pains, so bloated with dropsy that he had 
to move by machinery, and was troubled with 
the most terrible of tempers — yet Katharine 
soothed him, nursed him, and bore with all his 



LADY JANE GREY. 77 

humors. She was so devoted that she would 
stand upon her knees for hours together, apply- 
ing palliatives to his ulcerated leg. A man who 
would not have returned such faithfulness with 
kindness, must have been more than a monster. 
Yet all this while Seymour, her old lover, was at 
court, and Katharine was obliged to guard her- 
self carefully against the appearance of evil. 

About this time. Lady Jane Grey came to 
court. Katharine gave her a state-office in her 
bed-chamber, though she was but nine years old, 
and thus she was brought under her guidance. 
Lady Jane was at this time noted for her studi- 
ous disposition and her learning — was a beauti- 
ful girl, and being treated somewhat harshly by 
her parents at home, was the more willing proba- 
bly to leave it for the kind nurture of the queen. 
It is well that we have given the reader a picture 
of the dissolute manners of the time, to be seen 
even in the briefest sketch of Henry's wives, for 
without it he cannot fairly appreciate the almost 
divine loveliness of Lady Jane Grey's character. 
We shall hereafter in the course of our narrative 
see the youth of the Princess Elizabeth — we have 
already seen the conduct of many distinguished 
personages of that age, yet with any of these con- 



78 THE LIFE OF 

trast the Ladj Jane, and how exquisitely fair 
and beautiful she appears ! Amid all this cor- 
ruption, this licentiousness, and popular dissipa- 
tion which characterized both sexes, this fair girl 
grew up as a lily rears its slender stem in a nox- 
ious slough, and unfolds its snowy petals to the 
sun. It is the more wonderful, when we remem- 
ber that her own father was by no means a man 
of the best principles or conduct, and many of 
her relatives were wicked and unprincipled per- 
sons. Young and beautiful, a mere girl, she 
came to court to be a witness of all the folly and 
crime which was perpetrated there. But she 
could not have fallen into better hands. The. 
queen guarded her very carefully, and instilled 
into her mind principles of the strictest virtue. 

Katharine was in the habit of disputing with 
the king on matters of religion, in a way which 
pleased him, but one day when he was unusually 
out of humor, she ventured to remonstrate with 
him against a proclamation forbidding the use of 
a translation of the Scriptures. He was angry, 
and Gardiner, who was a Catholic, who was 
present, as soon as the queen left, took occasion 
to speak against her majesty. His egotism was 
touched by Gardiner's praise of his great knowl- 



LADY JANE GREY. 79 

edge, and lie was so wrought upon that he gave 
Gardiner liberty to draw up articles against the 
queen. Everything was carefully concealed from 
Katharine, but one day Wriothesley dropt from 
his bosom the bill of articles, and they were 
picked up by an attendant of the queen, and im- 
mediately carried to her. When the^ noble, but 
betrayed queen read the bill, she fell into con- 
vulsions, and her shrieks reached the king in his 
chamber. His heart relented, and he was carried 
to see her, which greatly revived her. She con- 
ducted herself with great skill, unlike her prede- 
cessors who had fellen under the displeasure of 
the king. 

The following evening the queen was well 
enough to visit the king in his bed-chamber. She 
was attended by her sister. Lady Herbert, and 
the youthful Lady Jane Grey, who was the king's 
niece. Lady Jane carried the candles before the 
queen. Henry received his wife with pleasant 
words, but in a short time brought up the old 
religious controversy; but Katharine with con- 
summate wisdom replied, " that she was but a 
woman, accompanied with all the imperfections 
natural to the weakness of her sex ; therefore in 
all matters of doubt and difficulty, she must refer 



80 THE LIFE OF 

herself to his majesty's better judgment, as to her 
lord and head ; for so God hath appointed you 
as the supreme head of us all, and of you, i^ext 
unto God, will I ever learn." 

"Not so, by St. Mary !" said Henry, "ye are 
become a doctor, Kate, to instruct us, and not to 
be instructed of us, as oftentime we have seen." 

"Indeed," replied Katharine, "if your majesty 
have so conceived, my meaning has been mis- 
taken, for I have always held it preposterous for 
a woman to instruct her lord ; and if I have ever 
presumed to differ with your highness on reli- 
gion, it was partly to obtain information for my 
own comfort regarding certain nice points on 
which I stood in doubt, and sometimes because 
I perceived that in talking you were better able 
to pass away the pain and weariness of your 
present infirmity." 

"And is it so, sweetheart?" asked the king; 
" then are we perfect friends." He kissed her 
with affection, and bade her depart. Thus did 
Katharine narrowly escape the scaffold. The 
next day she and the king were airing them- 
selves in the garden, the queen attended by our 
heroine, Lady Jane Grey, and others, when 
Wriothesley, the lord-chancellor, with forty of 



LADY JANE GREY. 81 

the guard, approached to arrest her majesty. He 
Knew nothing of the change in the king's mind, 
and the first intimation which he had was the 
terrible outburst of Henry, "Beast, fool, and 
knave, avaunt from my presence !" 

The queen was moved to pity for the discom- 
fited chancellor, and said "she would become a 
humble suitor for him, as she deemed his fault 
was occasioned by mistake." 

" Ah I poor soul," said Henry, "thou little 
knowest, Kate, how evil he deserveth this grace 
at thy hands. On my word, sweetheart, he hath 
been to thee a very knave !" 

There was now a reaction, and the king was 
profuse in his expressions of tenderness to Katha- 
rine. His attentions were occasionally coarse 
and disgusting. He would lay his ulcerated leg 
upon her lap, and sometimes before the whole 
court ; yet she bore it all with a smiling face. 
But again the fickle monarch grew weary of 
Katharine, and it is said was preparing a fresh 
accusation against her, on the charge of heresy, 
when in the midst of his awful and unrepented 
crimes, there came a summons which he could 
not disobey. The physicians so dreaded his 
hideous temper, that they dared not tell him he 
6 



82 THE LIFE OF 

was dying; the queen herself could not summon 
courage sufficient to execute so awful a task, but 
Sir Anthony Denny approached the royal bed 
and said, " All human aid is now vain, and it is 
meet for your majesty to review your past life, 
and seek for God's mercy through Christ !" 
Henry looked up sternly and said : " What 
judge hath sent you with this sentence upon 
me?" Denny replied, " Your physicians." When 
the physicians came with medicine, he said an- 
grily, " After the judges have once passed sen- 
tence on a criminal, they have no more to do 
with him ; therefore begone !" It was proposed 
that he confer with a divine, but he would see no 
one but Cranmer, saying that he would repose a 
little first. He slept an hour, and when he awoke 
was faint and alarmed, and he sent for Cranmer, 
but when he was come the king was speechless. 
He was consumed with thirst, and wished some 
white wine to drink, but being told that his last 
moment was come, he exclaimed, "All is lost !" 
and expired. Thus perished this terrible mon- 
arch, whose vices and temper were so hideous 
that the nation, corrupt as it was at this time, 
heard the news of his death with a feeling of re- 
lief and joy. To Katharine his death must have 



LADY JANE GREY. 8i' 

been a bappy event, for previously, her lite had 
oeen a most precarious thing, hanging upon the 
fickle will of her lord. Lady Jane Grey was a 
witness to this dreadful scene at court, but soon 
after retired to her father's seat, at Bradgate. 

In his will, Henry provided that the children 
which he might have by Katharine Parr, should 
stand immediately after Prince Edward in the 
order of succession, and next Mary, and failing 
Mary and her issue, the Princess Elizabeth, pro- 
vided in the case of both these princesses that 
they married with the consent of the counsellors 
appointed to Prince Edward. Failing Elizabeth 
and her issue. Lady Frances, the mother of Lady 
Jane Grey, was to be heir to the crown, the 
claim of Margaret, Queen Dowager of Scotland, 
being entirely passed over. 

Edward VL came to the throne in the year 
1647, being ten years of age. Lady.Jane Grey 
was born also just ten years before. The king 
was learned ; when he was but eight years old, 
he was in the habit of writing letters to his father 
in Latin. He was docile, kind-hearted, and hav- 
ing had tutors who were Protestants, was strong- 
ly inclined to the principles of the Eeformation. 
St/ype says, he " is the beautifullest creature that 



84 THE LIFE OP 

llveth under the sun ; the wittiest, the most amia- 
ble, and the gentlest thing of all the world." 

The Earl of Hertford, who was brother to Sir 
Thomas Seymour, and uncle to the king, was ap- 
pointed protector of the realm, and governor of 
the king's person during his minority, and Sir 
Thomas Seymour was made lord admiral and 
Baron Seymour of Ludley. The Earl of Hert- 
ford was also made Duke of Somerset, and many 
other high-sounding titles were added, and many 
offices were given to him. He was, in fact, the 
master of England, and his ambition was at last 
gratified. He was, however, liked by the peo- 
ple, for he was generous and princely in his de- 
portment. The two brothers, the protector and 
the admiral, were exceedingly ambitious of 
power, and did not regard each other affection- 
ately. 

The coronation of Edward YI. took place with 
the usual pomp, the Marquis of Dorset assisting 
in the ceremonies; bat whether his daughter, 
Lady Jane, was present or not, is not known, 
though it is quite probable that she witnessed 
the gorgeous pageant. Katharine Parr retired to 
her house at Chelsea, on the bank of the Thames, 
where Sir Thomas Seymour, her old lover, saw 



LADY JANE GREY. 85 

her privately. He was still a man of great beauty, 
and brave, as well as cheering in his manners. 
Katharine was thirty-five years old, still hand- 
some, and still dreaming over her old love for 
the gallant lord-admiral. She was also immense- 
ly wealthy, and as queen-downger possessed a 
very high position in society, and the relation in 
which she stood to the young king, gave her 
every opportunity to influence his conduct. But 
Seymour was extremely ambitious, and it is said 
at one time, contemplated a marriage with the 
youthful Lady Jane, in the hope that eventually 
she might come to the throne ; but at last he con- 
cluded it was the wisest thing for him to many 
Katharine Parr. The queen-dowager seems to 
have given herself almost unasked to him, for 
she loved him truly and passionately. The fol- 
lowing is a specimen of her correspondence with 
her lover : 

" My Lord, — 
" I send you my most humble and hearty com- 
mendations, being desirous to know how ye 
have done since I saw you. I pray you not to 
be oflfended with me, in that I send sooner to you 
than I said I would, for my promise was but once 



86 THE LIFE OF 

in a fortnight. Howbeit the time is well abbre 
viated, by what means I know not, except weeks 
be shorter at Chelsea than in other places. 

" My lord, your brother, hath deferred answer- 
ing such requests as I made to him, till his com- 
ing hither, which he says shall be immediately 
after the term. This is not the first promise 1 
have received of his coming, and yet unper- 
formed. I think my lady hath tanght him that 
lesson; for it is her custom to promise many 
comings to her friends, and to perform none. I 
trust in greater matters she is more circumspect. 

"And thus, my lord, I make an end, bidding 
you most heartily farewell, wishing you the good 
I would myself — From Chelsea. 

"P.S. I would not have you to think that this 
mine honest good-will toward you, to proceed of 
any sudden emotion of passion ; for as truly as 
God is God, my mind was fully bent, the other 
time I was at liberty, to marry you before any 
man I know. Howbeit, God withstood my will 
therein most vehemently for a time, and through 
his grace and goodness made that possible which 
seemed to me most impossible ; that was, made 
me renounce utterly mine own will, and to follow 
his will most willingly. It were long to write 



LADY JANE GREY. 87 

all the process of this matter : if I live I shall 
declare it to you myself. I can say nothing, but 
as my Lady of Sufiblk saith, ' God is a marvel- 
lous man.' 

" By her that is yours to serve and obey dur- 
ing her life, 

"Katharine, the Queen. K. P." 

Seymour persuaded Katharine to consent to a 
private marriage with him, two or three months 
after Henry VIII.'s death. The marriage was 
private, to escape the opposition which was sure 
to arise from certain quarters against it. Every- 
thing was conducted with the utmost secrecy 
until after they had been married a month or 
more, when Katharine wrote an affectionate let- 
ter to the young king. Edward answered it 
kindly, telling her if there was anything which 
she wished him to do, he would do it willingly. 
He was asked to give his consent to the marriage, 
which he did with pleasure. But when the news 
came to the ear of the Duke of Somerset, he was 
exceedingly angry that his own brother should 
have stolen a march upon him, and he insisted 
upon Katharine's returning all the jewels which 
she possessed as queen-consort having, he said, 



88 THE LIFE OF 

forfeited her right to them by her marriage. 
Somerset's wife was a proud, imperious woman, 
and completely swayed the duke. She could not 
bear that the wife of her husband's brother, aa 
queen-dowager, should take precedence of her- 
self. Soon after the detention of the jewels by 
Somerset, Katharine wrote her husband a letter, 
from which we make the following extract, at 
which the reader can hardly fail to smile. It 
shows that the good Katharine was, after all, sub- 
ject to passions like the rest of her sex : 

" This shall be to advertise you, that my lord 
your brother, hath this afternoon made me a lit- 
tle warm. It was fortunate we were so much 
distant, for I suppose else I should have bitten 
him. What cause hath he to fear having such a 
wife? It is requisite for him continually to pray 
for a short despatch of that hell." 

The sentence, " What hath he to fear," has al- 
lusion to the inordinate ambition of Somerset, 
who feared the advancing fortunes of his brother* 
and in fact he had some reason to fear him, for 
like himself, he was very daring in his ambitiotis 
projects. It was proper that the executors of 
Henry VIII. should elect one of their number 
Governor to the J'^oung king, but it was illegal 



LADY JANE GREY. 89 

for Somerset to assume the control of the king- 
dom, and overturn the will of the late monarch. 

His designs were still more treasonable, and 
the lord admiral laid his plans to overthrow 
his brother, the protector. Somerset entertained 
tLp idea of marrying the young king to his 
daughter, the Lady Jane Seymour, and Admi- 
ral Seymour hoped to checkmate him by mar- 
rying the king to his young friend, Lady Jane 
Grey. This idea, it is said, originated with 
Katharine Parr. Somerset hoped to secure Lady 
Jane Grey to be the wife of his son. But Sey- 
mour sent one of his confidential ofiicers to 
Bradgate, where Lady Jane was staying, and 
proposed that she should come and reside with 
Katharine and Lord Seymour, who would take 
care that she was well married. 

The Marquis of Dorset asked, '' with whom 
will he match her? " "I doubt not you shall 
see him marry her to the king," replied the 
oflS.cer. 

Lady Jane since the death of Henry VIII., 
had been pursuing her studies amid the shades 
of Bradgate, and was now quite willing to join 
her dear old friend and teacher, the queen- 
dowager. Her parents, who were somewhat 



yO THELIFEOP 

ambitious, were also willing that she should 
go, hoping thereby to make her fortune in a 
royal marriage. She therefore went to Han- 
worth, in Middlesex, where Seymour and Kath- 
arine were now staying. It was a beautiful 
place, a small royal seat; and here Lady Jane 
pursued her studies with great success. The 
Princess Elizabeth was her companion, and the 
contrast between these two young women was 
very striking. Both were proud of learning, 
both loved the cause of Protestantism, and both 
were young; but while Elizabeth conducted 
herself very imprudently and immodestly, Jane 
was pure, sweet, and modest as the severest 
critic could wish. Elizabeth was now nearly 
sixteen years of age. It is said that before 
Seymour married Katharine he contemplated 
a marriage with Elizabeth, and that nothing 
but the death of Henry YIII. broke it up. A 
month after the decease of the king, Seymour, 
sa3^s one historian, proposed marriage with Eliz- 
abeth, but she replied, " that she had neither 
the years nor the inclination to think of mar- 
riage, and that she would not have any one 
imagine that such a subject had ever been 
mentioned to her, at a time when she ought 



LADY JANE GREY. 91 

to be wholly taken up in weeping for the 
death of the king, her father, to whom she 
owed so many obligations, and that she intend- 
ed to devote at least two years to wearing 
black for him, and mourning for his loss ; and 
that even after she should arrive at years of 
discretion, she wishes to retain her liberty with- 
out entering into any matrimonial engagement," 
Katharine went so far as to talk with the prin- 
cess in reference to the unsuitableness of such 
a match, and the idea was given up. Eliz- 
abeth was now the guest of her lover, and 
from the day of her entrance Katharine saw 
but little joy. At first the queen seemed to 
encourage the admiral in his playful attentions 
to Elizabeth, but at last her jealousy was fully 
aroused. Seymour stood high in the good 
graces of ^Lrs. Ashley, the Princess Elizabeth's 
governess, and would come into the young la- 
dy's bed-chamber before she was up, would 
" strike her on her back familiarly," and " try 
to kiss her in bed," and one morning when 
Katharine was with him, " tickled Lady Eliz- 
beth in bed." One day Katharine, who began 
to suspect Seymour loved Elizabeth, came sud' 
djenly into her room, when she was thunder* 



92 THE LIFE OF 

Struck to see her sitting in Seymour's lap, 
with his arms around her. The poor queen was 
cut to the heart, for she loved her husband 
dearly. She was greatly offended with both, 
and not merely on account of her husband's 
injustice to her, but because of the irreparable 
injury he was inflicting upon the character of 
the young princess. Already rumors were afloat 
of an unpleasant nature, and were the admiral 
guilty of the ruin of Elizabeth, he would justly 
be regarded by the nation as a monster. When- 
ever Seymour was praised in Elizabeth's pres- 
ence she always manifested pleasure, and when- 
ever his name was mentioned she blushed. 
There can be no doubt but that she loved him, 
and as to her guilt at this time it is better to 
say nothing, as nothing is positively known. 
The queen acted very wisely, for she sent her 
quietly away, and endeavored to hush all ru- 
mors against the reputation of the imprudent, if 
not criminal princess. It is refreshing to turn 
from the history of Elizabeth's youth to that 
of Lady Jane, who was the best-loved friend 
of Katharine. At this time the queen -dowager, 
naving hopes of an heir, went to reside at Sud- 
ley Castle, in Gloucestershire, a fine old r£>«i.- 



LADY JANE GREY. 93 

dence. Somewhat sad from her recent discov- 
eries in reference to her husband's affections, 
the queen was yet sustained with the hope of 
presenting him with an heir, which she fondly 
trusted would recall his wandering heart to its 
proper home. She took the lovely Lady Jane 
with her, who, although so young in years, yet 
was so gentle and wise, so beautiful and good, 
that she was a most desirable companion for 
her. 

On the 30th of August, 1548, Katharine gave 
birth to a daughter, much to the disappointment 
of both parents, who had hoped it would prove 
to be a male heir. But Seymour did not ex- 
press any regret, but seemed to be overflowing 
with exquisite happiness at the thought of being 
a father. But the queen gave birth to her babe 
at the cost of her own life. The puerperal fever 
attacked her, and finally caused her death. Sey- 
mour treated her very affectionately, but amid 
her half-delirium she seemed to hate him and 
even to forget her babe. 

It is supposed by some that Katharine sus- 
pected that she was poisoned, but it is a very 
improbable supposition. The charge of poison- 
ing was an after-invention of Seymour's enemies 



94 THE LIFE OF 

to ruin him with the king. It is more probable 
that some of the queen's attendants repeated to 
her some of the court gossip in reference to Sey- 
mour's passion for Elizabeth, Certain it is that 
she made her will upon her death bed, in which 
she bequeathed all her possessions to her deai 
husband, "only wishing them to be a thousand 
times more in value than they were." Upon her 
sick bed it is true she seemed to be sorely trou- 
bled with something in reference to Seymour. 
She said that she was not well handled. "Why, 
sweetheart," said her husband, "I would do you 
no hurt." He tried to pacify her, and laid down 
by her side and spoke kind words of affection 
to her, but she answered sharply. But it was 
mainly the disease, for she said not a word about 
her babe, which was unnatural. Seven days 
after the birth of her child, this good wife and 
excellent woman expired. Although she ex- 
pressed herself somewhat severely against her 
husband, yet before she died her thoughts were 
all upon him, and her heart, too, was his. To 
the very last she loved him, and loved him so 
well that she was anxious that he should have 
all her wealth, even forgetting the babe in 
whose veins ran her own blood 1 



LADY JANE GREY. 95 

Lady Jane Grey was in close attendance upon 
the queen during her illness, and saw her eyes 
closed in death. It must have been a sad stroke 
upon her young and tender heart, for Katharine 
had been to her a preceptor, a friend, and a 
mother, the kindest mother she had in the 
world, if we may believe the words of Roger 
Ascham, her tutor. 

The funeral of the queen took place with great 
solemnity from Sudley Castle, and Lady Jane 
Grey was the chief mourner. We extract the 
following from " a breviate of the interment of 
the Lady Katharine Parr, queen-dowager," which 
is still preserved. It certi£es that Lady Jane 
was present at the funeral, and acted as chief 
mourner in the procession. 

" The order in proceeding to the chapel : 

" First, two conductors in black, with black 
staves ; then gentlemen and esquires ; then 
knights ; then officers of the household, with their 
white staves ; then the gentlemen ushers ; then 
Somerset herald, in the tabard coat ; then the 
corpse, borne by six gentlemen in black gowns, 
with their hoods on their heads ; then eleven staff 
torches, borne on each side by yeomen round 
about the corpse, and at each corner a knight foj 



96 THE LIFE OP 

assistance (four) with their hoods on their heads j 
then the Lady Jane (daughter to the Lord-Mar- 
quis Dorset) chief mourner, her train borne up 
by a young lady ; then six other lady mourners, 
two and two; then yeomen, three and three, in 
rank ; then all other following." 

We cannot take our leave of Katharine Parr 
without quoting the words of a writer who lived 
in her time : 

" She was endowed with a pregnant wittiness 
joined with right wonderful grace of eloquence, 
studiously diligent in acquiring knowledge as 
well of human discipline as also of the holy 
scriptures ; of incomparable elasticity, which she 
kept not only from all spot, but from all suspi- 
cion, by avoiding all occasions of idleness, and 
condemning vain pastimes." 

The queen's chaplain wrote her epitaph in La- 
tin. The translation is as follows : 

" In this new tomb the royal Katharine lies ; 
Flower of her sex, renowned, great, and wis* 
A wife, by every nuptial virtue known, 
A faithful partner onc« to Henry's throne. 
To Seymour next her plighted hand she yields- 
Seymour, who Neptune's trident justly wields ; 
From him a beauteous daughter bless'd her arms, 
An infant copy of her parent's charms. 
When now seven days this infant flower had bloomed, 
Heaven in its wrath the mother's soul resumed." 



LADY JANE GREY. 97 

Of all the queens who were the consorts of 
Henry VIII., Katharine was the only one whose 
character for piety and wisdom is all that one 
could wish. Her influence over Lady Jane Grey 
was very great, and to her guidance we may as- 
cribe much of Lady Jane's purity and nobleness 

of life. 

7 



CHAPTER y. 

CORRESPONDENCE IN REFERENCH TO LADT JANE. SHE GOSH TO HER 

father's HOUSE. RETURNS TO THE CARE OF SEYMOUR. TUB AD- 
MIRAL ARRESTED. LADY JANE RETURNS TO BRADGATE. SEYMOUR 

BEHEADED. — LETTER OF ROGER ASCHAM TO LADY JANE. PRE- 
SENTED AT COURT. VISIT "WITH THE PRINCESS MARY. ^MARY PRK- 

SENTS HER WITH A GOLD NECKLACE. 

The death of Katharine Parr was a terrible 
shock to Lord Seymour ; so keenly did he feel 
it, so overwhelmed was he with the affliction, 
that he resolved at* once upon dismissing his 
household, and giving up the splendor which 
surrounded his housekeeping at Sudley Castle. 
His plans were all broken up by Katharine's 
death, and he scarcely knew how to proceed. 
He, however, shortly reconsidered his decision, 
and wrote to Lady Jane's father, earnestly re- 
questing that she might remain at his house. 
The following is a copy of the letter. 

" My lord, 

" After my most hearty commend unto your 



LADY JANE GREY. 99 

lordship, whereby my last letter unto the same 
"written in a time when partly with the queen's 
highness' death I was so annoyed that I had 
small regard either to myself or my doings ; and 
partly then thinking that my great loss must 
presently have constrained me to have broken 
up and dissolved my whole house, I offered unto 
your lordship to send my Lady Jane unto you, 
whensoever you would send for her, as to him 
whom I thought would be most tender to her. 
Forasmuch, as being since both better advised 
of myself, and having more deeply digested 
whereunto my power would extend, I find that 
indeed with God's help, I shall right well be 
able to continue my house together without di- 
minishing any great part thereof. And there- 
fore, putting my whole affiance and trust in God, 
have begun anew to establish my household, 
where shall remain not only the gentlewomen of 
the queen's highness' privy chamber, but also the 
maids which waited at large, and other women 
being about her grace in her life-time, with a 
hundred and twenty gentlemen and yeomen, 
continually abiding in house together ; saving 
that now presently certain of the maids and gen- 
tlemen have desired to have leisure for a month 



100 THE LIFE OP 

to see their friends, and then immediately return 
hither again. And therefore, doubting lest your 
lordship might think any unkindness that I 
should by my said letters take occasion to rid 
me of your daughter so soon after the queen's 
death ; for the proof both of my hearty affection • 
towards you, and good will towards her, I mind 
now to keep her, until I next speak with your 
lordship ; which should have been within these 
three or four days, if it had not been that I must 
repair unto the court, as well to help certain of 
the queen's poor servants, with some of the 
things now fallen by her death, as also for my 
own affairs; unless I shall be advertised from 
your lordship of your express mind to the con- 
trary. My lady, my mother, shall and will, I 
doubt not, be as dear unto her, as though she 
were her own daughter, and for my own part, I 
shall continue her half-father and more, and all 
that are in my house shall be as diligent aboui 
her as yourself would wish accordingly. 

"Thomas Seymour." 

But the marquis seems not to have been will- 
ing that Lady Jane should remain, for two days 
after he wrote as follows to Seymour : — 



LADY JANE GREY. lOl 

" My lord, 

" My most hearty commendations unto your 
good lordship not forgotten. When it hath 
pleased you by your most gentle letters to offer 
me the abode of my daughter at your lordship's 
house, I do as well acknowledge your most 
friendly affection towards me and her herein, as 
also render unto you most deserved thanks for 
the same. Nevertheless, considering the state 
of my daughter and her tender years, wherein 
she shall hardly rule herself as yet without a 
guide, lest she should for lack of a bridle take too 
much heed, and conceive such opinion of herself 
that all good behavior as she heretofore hath 
learned, by the queen's and your most wholesome 
instructions, should either altogether be quenched 
in her, or, at the least, much diminished, I shall 
in most hearty wise require your lordship to 
commit her to the governance of her mother, by 
whom for the fear and duty she oweth her, she 
shall most easily be ruled and framed towards 
virtue, which I wish above all things to be most 
plentiful in her ; and although your lordship's 
good mind concerning her honest and godly ed- 
ucation is so great, that mine can be no more, 
yet weighing that you be destitute of such one 



102 THE LIFE OF 

as should correct her as a mietress, and admon- 
ish her as a mother, I persuade myself that you 
will think the eye and oversight of •my wife 
shall be in this respect most necessary. My 
meaning herein is not to withdraw any part 
of my promise to you for her bestowing, for 1 
assure your lordship, I intend, God willing, to 
use your discreet advice and consent in that be- 
half, and no less than mine own ; only I seek in 
these her young years wherein she now stand- 
eth, either to make or mar (as the common say- 
ing is) the addressing of her mind to humility, 
soberness, and obedience. Wherefore, looking 
upon that fatherly affection which you bear her, 
my trust is that your lordship, weighing the 
premises, will be content to charge her mother 
with her, whose waking eye in respecting her 
demeanor shall be, I hope, no less than you, a 
friend, and I as a father, would wish. And 
thus wishing your lordship a perfect riddance 
of all unquietness and grief of mind, I leave 
any further to trouble your lordship. 

"From my house at Brodegate, the 19th of 
September. Your lordship's to the truly my 
power. Henry Dorsett. 

" I'o my very good Lord Admiral : give this." 



LADY JANE GREY. 103 

Lady Jane's mother also wrote to Seymour as 
follows : 

" Although, good brother, I might be well en- 
couraged to minister such counsel unto you as I 
have in store, for that it hath pleased you not 
only so to take in worthy that I wrote in my 
Lady of Suffolk's letter, but also to require me 
to have in readiness such good advices as I shall 
think convenient against our next meeting, yet 
considering how unable I am to do that hereto 
belongeth, I had rather leave with that praise I 
have gotten at your hand, than by seeking more to 
lose that I have already won. And whereas of 
a friendly and brotherly good will you wish 
to have my daughter Jane still continuing in 
your house, I give you most hearty thanks for 
your gentle offer, trusting, nevertheless, that, for 
the good opinion you have in your sister, you 
will be content to charge her with her, who 
promiseth you not only to be ready at all times 
to account for the ordering of your dear niece, 
'jut also to use your counsel and advice on the 
bestowing of her whensoever it shall happen. 
Wherefore, my good brother, my request shall 
hat I may have the oversight of her with 



104 THE LIFE OP 

your good will, and thereby I shall have good 
occasion to think that you do trust me in such 
wise, as is convenient that a sister to be trusted 
of so loving a brother. And thus, my most 
hearty commendations not omitted, I wish the 
whole deliverance of your grief, and continuance 
of your lordship's health. 

From Bradgate, 19th of this September. 
Your loving sister and assured friend, 

"Fkances DoKSErr." 

Lady Jane was grand niece of Henry VIII., 
and, therefore, grand niece to Katharine Parr, 
but we can hardly conceive why Seymour should 
consider himself her uncle because he married 
Katharine, but Lady Dorset addresses him as a 
relation, a " good brother." 

Seymour finally consented that Lady Jane 
should return to her father's house, and sent his 
steward with her, but a few weeks afterwards he 
became very desirous that she should return to 
his house. He revived his old idea of marrying 
her to Edward VL, her second cousin. Lady 
Jane was now nearly twelve years old, and very 
pretty. She was staying in London with her 
parents at Dorset-house, near the Temple, and 



LADY JANE GREY. 105 

there Seymour visited Lord Dorset, and finally, 
by eulogizing upon the brilliant prospect in store 
for Jane, i. e., her marriage with the king, he per- 
suaded the marquis to a,gain relinquish his lovely 
daughter to his care. He gave him five hundred 
pounds, as a part of two thousand pounds, which 
he had agreed to lend him, and refused any bond, 
saying that Lady Jane should be the pledge. 

Seymour's ambition was towering, and long 
before this he had endeavored to win the young 
king over to himself. Indeed, he was partially 
successful, for Edward seemed to regard him 
with more affection than his brother the lord 
protector. He gave Edward money, made him 
various presents, and endeavored in every pos- 
sible secret manner to get the king into his own 
hands. At last, he induced him to write a letter 
advising that he be appointed in the place of 
Somerset to the office of lord protector. This 
brought Somerset, who was absent in Scotland, 
at once back to court, and steps were at once 
taken to induce Seymour to relinquish his impru- 
dent and ambitious project. He paid no atten- 
tion, however, to any remonstrances which were 
addressed to him on the subject, until the coun- 
cil passed a resolution that he be sent to the 



106 THE LIFE OF 

Tower, when lie hastened to his brother and 
sought a reconciliation, which took place. He 
was contented but for a short time, his spirit 
being a restless one, and impelling him forward 
to his fate. Somerset wished to marrj his son 
Lord Hertford to Lady Jane Grey, but Seymour 
wished her to marry the king, to defeat his 
brother's project, Hertford afterwards married 
Lady Jane's younger sister. Somerset hoped to 
rnarry the king to his own daughter, and, there- 
fore, was deadly opposed to Seymour's plan of 
raising Lady Jane to the throne. 

The lord admiral said publicly of Lady Jane 
Grey, that " she was as handsome a lady as any 
in England?" It is evident that the king was 
well affected towards Lady Jane, and the Protes- 
tant party were not at all averse to the admiral's 
project. She had been very carefully educated 
under the tutelage of Koger Ascham and Queen 
Katharine Parr, and the latter person always 
had in view her prospects for a royal position in 
her subsequent career. But the protector's in- 
fluence was too great for any such plan to suc- 
ceed, and Seymour seems in a manner to have 
given it up, though Lady Jane remained at his 
house until his arrest for treason. 



LADY JANE GREY. \07 

The Princess Elizabeth wtis now sixteen years 
old, and Admiral Seymour renewed his old idea 
of marrying her. He was twenty years older 
than Elizabeth, but he was yet handsome and 
graceful, and she loved him. She allowed her 
governess, upon the death of Katharine Parr, to 
write him a letter of condolence, and, in a short 
time, the rumor was abroad that he would marry 
her. But according to Henry YIII.'s will, she 
must not marry without the consent of the coun- 
cil, and this could not be obtained. If she should 
still persist in marrying Seymour, she for''(3ited 
her right of succession to the crown. This, of 
course, she could not make up her mind to do. 
She was herself too ambitious and too wise to 
make any such sacrifice. But there can be no 
doubt that she loved Seymour, and, in fact, that 
she never really and truly loved any other man 
during her brilliant career. It was her impas- 
sioned love for Seymour that led her into so 
many imprudences with him. By nature she 
was extremely cautious, but with him she seemed 
to forget all etiquette. She scrupled not to say 
that she would marry the admiral if the council 
consented. Somerset declared that " he would 
clap his brother into the Tower if he became a 



108 THE LIFE OF 

suitor for Elizabeth's hand," and the quarrel 
between them broke out afresh. This threat 
exasperated Seymour, and he plunged reckless- 
ly into the maddest intrigues against the lord 
protector. He resolved even as a last resort to 
seize upon the king's person ; and a confederate re- 
vealing his plans, Somerset caused his arrest. He 
was carried instantly to the Tower, and was now 
shut out from all hope. It would seem that he 
need not have feared for his life when his own 
brother was in reality the ruler of the kingdom, 
but Somerset was fully resolved upon sacrificing 
the life of Seymour, and thus rid himself of a 
powerful rival and enemy. 'The Parliament 
found a bill of attainder, and he was sentenced 
to be beheaded. Several of the Princess Eliza- 
beth's friends were arrested, and she herself had 
apartments in the Tower, and was looked upon 
in the light of a prisoner. She wrote a bold and 
eloquent letter to Somerset, in which she said, 
"Master Tyrwhit and others have told me there 
goeth rumors abroad which be greatly both against 
my honor and honesty, which above all other 
things I esteem, which be these, that I am in the 
Tower, and with child by my lord admiral. My 
lord, these are shameful slanders." 



I 



LADY JANE GREY. 109 

' ' The princess was obliged to guard her very 
looks during the trial and execution of her lover, 
for she was herself in great danger from the sus- 
picions which were aroused against her. Sey- 
mour seems to have abandoned himself to his 
fate from the moment of his imprisonment. He 
was probably so fully aware of the nature of his 
brother's ambition, and of the sacrifices which he 
would make to it, that he knew there was no 
hope of pardon. Upon the scaffold he protested 
that he had never committed any treason against 
the king or his country. Before his death he 
procured some ink, and plucking off an aglet from 
his dress, with the point of it he wrote a letter 
.to Elizabeth. He perished sadly, without any 
religious confession ; Latimer says, "dangerous- 
ly, irksomely, horribly." When the Princess 
Elizabeth was told of his terrible end, she had 
the wisdom to conceal her sorrow, simply saying, 
" This day died a man without much wit, and 
with very little judgment." 

The only heir of Seymour's was the poor babe 
which purchased its life by the death of its 
mother, Katharine Parr. Lady Jane Grey was 
godmother to the little orphan, but in the hands 
of its cruel uncle Somerset and his wife, it fared 



110 THE LIFE OF 

worse than it would have done at the hands of a 
pirate. It should have inherited wealth, but 
everything was grasped by a strong arm away 
from her. At one time she was in charge of the 
Duchess of Suffolk, at another, of the Marquis of 
Northampton, but, in every case, she was cheated 
and despoiled of her rights. Though the daugh- 
ter of a Queen of England, she had no home, nor 
place where to lay her head. She survived until 
the age of thirteen, when she° joined her sainted 
mother in a sphere where cruelty and injustice 
cannot exist. 

We cannot contemplate the execution of Sey- 
mour without a feeling of horror. Undoubtedly, 
he acted with the rashest imprudence, and, in a 
manner, may be said to have induced his fate, 
by his wretched conduct, but there is something 
terrible in his death, caused, as it was, by his 
own brother. The heart of Somerset must have 
been made of stone, or he could not have seen 
his nearest relative, his own brother, upon the 
scaffold without a pang of sorrow. But he seems 
not to have exhibited the slightest feeling upon 
the subject. His only desire was to secure his 
dissevered head — and, when his object was ac- 
complished, he was happy again. This is the 



LADY JANE GREY. Ill 

great stain upon his life. He was generally pop- 
ular with the people, and they mourned him 
when, still later, he met the same dreadful fate 
which he had passed upon Seymour, but some 
there were who must have, remembered the 
murder of his brother, and have feit that the 
hand of Providence was plainly to be seen in his* 
own execution. 

When Seymour was arrested, Lady Jane Grey 
returned to her father's, at Bradgate, where she 
continued her studies. In the year 1550 the 
Marquis of Dorset was appointed itinerant jus- 
tice of the king's forests, and remained princi- 
pally at his seat in Leicestershire. In the month 
of August the whole family, with many guests, 
were assembled there. During this month the 
good Eoger Ascham, being appointed to a di- 
plomatic mission in Germany, made a visit to 
Bradgate to see his beautiful scholar. Lady Jane 
He says : — 

" Before I went into Germany I came intr 
Brodegate, in Leicestershire, to take my leave of 
that noble lady, Jane Grey, to whom I Avas ex- 
ceedingly much beholden. Her parents, with all 
the household, gentlemen and gentlewomen, were 
hunting in the park. I found her in her chamber 



112 THE LIFE OP 

reading Phaedon Platonis in Greek, and that 
witli as much delight as some gentlemen would 
read a merrj tale in Bocace. After salutation 
and duty done, with some other talk I asked 
her why she would lose such pastime in the 
park ; smiling she answered me : ' I wis all 
their sport in the park is but a shadow to that 
pleasure I find in Plato ; alas, good folk, they 
never felt what true pleasure meant.' ' And 
how came you, madam,' quoth I, 'to this deep 
knowledge of pleasure, and what did chiefly 
allure you unto it, seeing not many women, 
but few men, have attained thereto?' 'I will 
tell you,' quote she, 'and tell you a truth, which 
perchance ye will marvel at. One of the great- 
est benefits that ever God gave me is that he 
sent me so sharp and severe parents, and so 
gentle a schoolmaster. For when I am in the 
presence of either father or mother, whether 1 
speak, keep silence, sit, stand or go, eat, drink, 
be merry or sad, be sewing, playing, dancing, or 
doing any thing else, I must do it, as it were in 
such weight, measure, and number, even so per- 
fectly as God made the world, or else I am so 
sharply taunted, so cruelly threatened, yea pres- 
ently sometimes with pinches, nips, and bobs, and 



LADY JANE GRET. 113 

other ways which I will not name for the honor 
I bear them, so without measure misordered, that 
I think myself in hell till the time come that 
I must go to Mr. Elmer, who teacheth me so 
gently, so pleasantly, with such fair allurements 
to learning, that I think all the time nothing 
whilst I am with him. And when I am called 
from him I fall a weeping, because whatsoever 
I do else but learning, is full of grief, trouble? 
fear, and whole misliking unto me. And thus 
my book hath been so much my pleasure, and 
bringeth daily to me more pleasure and more, 
that in respect of it, all other pleasures in 
very deed be but trifles and troubles unto me 1' 
I remember this talk gladly, both because it is 
so worthy of memory, and because, also, it was 
the last talk that ever I had, and the last time 
that ever I saw that noble and worthy lady." 

The reader must remember that in Lady 
Jane's time it was customary to correct chil- 
dren and even grown up young ladies very 
harshly. But the Marquis of Dorset was a 
severe man, selfish, avaricious, and formed of 
a temper anything but pleasant. Any man who 
will mistreat his mother will mistreat a child, 
and the marquis treated his mother shamefully 
8 



114 THE LIFE OF 

He seems to have been ready at all times to 
barter Lady Jane away withoat consulting her 
feelings, and it is a wonder how she was so 
gentle and lovely with such treatment as she 
received at home. Perhaps it was because she 
was so large a portion of her life absent from 
home, and under the guardianship of the gentle 
and good. 

Early in the next year Eoger Ascham wrote 
Lady Jane a letter, which is still preserved. 
The following is a copy : — 

"In this my long peregrination, most illustri- 
ous lady, I have travelled far ; have visited the 
greatest cities; and have made the most dili- 
gent observations in my power upon the man- 
ners of nations, their institutions, laws, religion, 
and regulations; nevertheless, in such variety 
there is nothing that has raised in me greater 
admiration than what I found in regard to your- 
self during the last summer, to see one so young 
and lovely, even in the absence of her learned 
preceptor, in the noble hall of her family, at the 
very moment when all her friends and relatives 
were enjoying hunting and field sports--to find, 
I repeat, oh, all ye gods! so divine a maid dili- 
gently perusing the divine Phaedon of Plato; 



LADY JANE GREY. 115 

in this more happy, it may be believed, than ia 
her noble and royal lineage. 

"Go on thus, oh best adorned virgin, to the 
honor of thy country, the delight of thy parents, 
thy own glory, the praise of thy preceptor, the 
comfort of thy relatives and acquaintances, and 
the admiration of all. Oh happy Elmer! to 
have such a scholar, and to be her preceptor. 
I congratulate both you who teach, and she 
who learns. 

" These are the words of John Sturmius unto 
myself as my reward for teaching the most illus- 
trious Lady Elizabeth ; but to you two I can 
repeat them even with more truth ; to you two 
I concede this felicity, even though I should 
have to lament want of success where I had ex- 
pected to reap the sweetest fruits from my labor. 

'"But let me restrain the sharpness of my 
grief, which prudence makes it necessary I 
should conceal even to myself This much I 
may say, that I have no fault to find with the 
Lady Elizabeth, whom I have always found 
the best of ladies, nor indeed with the Lady 
Mary; but if ever I shall have the happiness 
to meet my friend Elmer, then shall I repose ir 
his bosom my sorrows abundantly.' 



116 THE LIFE OF 

"Two things I repeat to thee, my good El- 
mer — for T know that thou wilt see this letter — 
that by your persuasion and entreaty the Lady 
Jane Grey, as early as she can conveniently, 
may write to me in Greek, which she has al- 
ready promised to do. I have even written 
lately to John Sturmius, mentioning this prom- 
ise. Pray let your letter and hers fly together 
to us. The distance is great, but John Hales 
will take care that it shall reach me. If she 
even were to write to Sturmius himself in 
Greek, neither you nor she shall have cause 
to repent your labor. 

" The other request is, my good Elmer, that 
you would exert yourself so that we might 
conjointly preserve this mode of life amongst 
us. How freely, how sweetly, and philosophi- 
call}^, then, should we live ! "Why should we, 
my good Elmer, less enjoy all these good things, 
which Cicero, at the conclusion of his third 
book, De Finitus, describes as the only ration- 
al mode of life? Nothing in any tongue, no- 
thing in any times, in human memory, either 
past or present, from which something may not 
De drawn to sweeten life ! 

" As to the news here, most illustrious lady, 



LADY JANE GREY. 117 

I know not what to write. That which is writ- 
ten of stupid things, must itself be stupid ; and, 
as Cicero complained of his own times, there is 
little to amuse, or that can be embellished. Be- 
sides, at present all places and persons are oc- 
cupied with rumors of wars and commotions, 
which for the most part are either mere fabrica- 
tions, or founded upon no authority ; so that 
anything respecting continental politics would 
neither be interesting nor useful to you. 

" The general council of Trent is to sit on the 
first of May : Cardinal Pole, it is asserted, is to 
be the president. Besides, there are tumults this 
year in Africa ; then preparations for a war 
against the Turks: and then the great expec- 
tations of the march of the emperor into Hun- 
gary, of which, though no soldier, I shall, God 
willing, be a companion. Why need I write to 
you of the siege of Medgeburg, and how the 
Duke of Mechlenburg has been taken ; or of 
that commotion which so universally at this 
moment afflicts the miserable Saxony ? To 
write of all these things I have neither leisure 
nor would it be safe ; but on my return, which I 
hope is not far distant, it shall be my great hap- 
piness to relate all these things to you in person. 



118 * THE LIFE OF 

" Thy kindness to me, oli most noble Jane 
Grej, was always most grateful to me when 
present with you ; but it is ten times more so 
during this long absence. To your noble pa- 
rents I wish length of happiness; to you a 
daily victory in letters and in virtue; to thy 
sister Katharine, that she may resemble thee; 
and to Elmer I wish every good that he may 
wish to Ascham. 

"Further, dearest lady, if I were not afraid 
to load thee with the weight of my light saluta- 
tions, I would ask thee, in my name to salute 
Elizabeth Astley, who, as well as her brother 
John, I believe to be of my best friends; and 
whom I believe to be like that brother in all 
integrity and sweetness of manners. 

" Salute, I pray thee, my cousin Mary Laten, 
and my wife Alice, of whom I think often er 
than I can now express. Salute, also, that 
worthy young man Garret, and John Haddon. 

" Farewell, most noble lady in Christ. 

"K. A. 

*' August AE, 18th January, 1851." 

It would be a singular sight, even in this 
enlightened age — that of a girl of fourteen 
years corresponding with the first scholars of 



LADY JANE GREY. 119 

Europe, and in Greek ! Ascliam, Bullinger, and 
Sturmius, all distinguished men, received her let- 
ters with the greatest pleasure, and answered 
them as if it were a wonderful privilege. In the 
following month of June, Lad j Jane commenced 
the study of the Hebrew language, and in the 
same month wrote an epistle to the celebrated 
Bullinger, at Zurich. Bullinger was imbued 
with the principles of the reformation, and was 
well known to the Dorset family. The letter 
of Lady Jane is unaffected, the style pure, and 
the sentiments religious. During a part of the 
year 1551, Lady Jane resided in Cambridge, 
though the greater portion seems to have been 
spent at Bradgate. On the 11th of October her 
father, the Marquis of Dorset, was raised to the 
peerage. The title of the Suffolk family had 
become extinct by the death of Henry and 
Charles Brandon, and it was bestowed upon the 
Marquis of Dorset, because his wife was sister 
to the Suffolks. From this time, therefore, we 
shall mention Lady Jane's parents by their new 
titles — the Duke and Duchess of Suffolk. 

The family now came to London, and Lady 
Jane was presented at court. Mary of Lorraine, 
the queen-dowager of Scotland, had just arrived 



120 THE LIFE OF 

from France, and on the occasion of her visit 
Lady Jane publicly took part in the ceremonies 
in honor of the queen. The first interview- 
between the queen and King Edward took 
place on the fourth of November, and Lady 
Jane was a witness to the interesting scene. 
The reception took place at Whitehall, and 
the Duchess of Suffolk rode in the carriage 
tbitber witb Queen Mary, and her daughter, 
Lady Jane Grey, followed in her train. That 
day the royal couple dined alone together, and 
Lady Jane, ber motber, and many other distin- 
guished ladies, retired to tbe queen's great cbam- 
ber, wbere tbey all partook of a grand entertain- 
ment. That night her majesty returned to ber 
apartments in tbe bishop's palace, but two days 
afterwards further bonors were conferred on 
ber. A long train of tbe nobility followed her 
tbrougb Bisbopsgate street as far as Shoreditcb 
cburch, and Lady Jane's motber, the Duchess of 
Suffolk, was a very prominent personage in the 
procession, adding much to its splendor. 

On New Year's day, 1552, tbe Duchess of 
Suffolk made Edward tbe king a present of a 
purse knit of gold and silver, and containing 
forty pounds sterling. Tbe young monarcb gave 



LADY JANE GREY. 121 

her in return three gilt bowls with covers. 
Edward often saw Lady Jane, and loved her, 
but rather as a brother than as a suitor. It 
was about this time that Ladj Jane wrote a 
second letter to Bullinger, the scholar and 
reformer. 

The health of Edward declining at this time, 
it was proposed that he should travel over the 
kingdom, in the hope of diverting his mind from 
weighty matters which pressed upon him. Just 
previous to his starting, the Princess Mary came 
to court and bad an interview with her half- 
brother. The King started for Guildford the 
latter part of June, and in July Lady Jane 
Grey took occasion in the absence of the court 
to pay a visit to the Princess Mary at Newhall. 
The princess seems to have received her in a 
cordial manner, though they did not agree upon 
religious subjects. The following anecdote is re- 
corded as having occurred during this visit. The 
Princess Mary was at heart a Catholic, though 
she made pretences of being, if not a Protestant, 
at least very liberal in her religious belief. She 
had a domestic chapel at Newhall, and one day 
when Lady Jane Grey was walking through it 

in company with Lady Wharton, the latter curt- 
F 



122 THE LIFE OF 

Bied to the host on the altar. Lady Jane ob- 
served the act of reverence and asked, 

" Is Lady Mary present in the chapel ?" 

" No," replied Lady Wharton. 

" Why, then, do you curtsey ?" asked Lady 
Jane. 

"I curtsey to Him that made me," replied 
Lady Wharton. 

" Nay," said Lady Jane," but did not tbe 
baker make him ?" 

This dialogue was repeated to the Princess 
Mary, who was offended with Jane, and it is 
said never afterwards loved her. We may be 
sure of this fact, but we doubt if ever before 
she entertained much affection for her lovely 
cousin. She did at one time, to be sure, pre- 
sent her with a costly dress, yet Lady Jane 
said, when the dress was sent to her, — 

" Nay, it were a shame to follow my Lady 
Mary, who leaveth God's word, and leave my 
Lady Elizabeth, who followeth God's word." 
The Princess Elizabeth for several years had 
endeavored by a sober and severe life to expiate 
her sad imprudencies with Lord Seymour. It 
may have been that the dreadful fate of the 
only man whom she truly loved made so deep 



LADY JANE GEET. 123 

an impression upon her mind, that she was 
desirous of quitting the vanities of life. Sev- 
eral years before, Mary gave to Lady Jane a 
gold necklace set with pearls. Alasl the fair 
neck around which the golden gift was placed, 
was, destined to be severed by the same hand 
which offered the splendid toy ! It is quite 
evident that Lady Jane never looked upon 
Mary with much affection. Her conduct, in- 
deed, had not been attractive, and her sym- 
pathies for Catholicism might have rendered 
her odious in the sight of the pious and en- 
lightened Lady Jane. 

The king continued absent on his journey, 
and Lady Jane Grey returned to her studies. 
The good Aylmer was her guide and instructor, 
and she was a most apt pupil. Not only was 
she thoroughly acquainted with the learned lan- 
guages, but general science attracted her close 
attention. She was also deeply versed in theol- 
ogy, so much so that she was a match for almost 
any religious disputant. 



CHAPTER VI. 

DQKE OF SOMERSET. INSURRECTIONS. RISE OF THE EARL OF WAR- 
WICK. MADE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND. DOWNFALL OF SOM- 
ERSET. — Northumberland's ambition. — his designs upon the 

CROWN. 

The Duke of Somerset, when he had sacr; 
ficed the life of his own brother to his ambition, 
became still more desirous of enlarged power and 
influence. A great commotion raged through- 
out England among the lower classes, on ac- 
count of a pecuniary panic which was prevalent 
in the country. The duke, hoping to add to 
his popularity with the masses, took the side 
of the people. The landholders in many in- 
stances had inclosed the commons, which the 
poor people had been accustomed to graze their 
cattle upon, or otherwise make use of, and the 
protector somewhat rashly issued a proclama- 
tion insisting that all commons which had been 
inclosed should at once be thrown open to the 
public. But few obeyed this proclamation, and 



LADY JANE GREY. 125 

the masses determined to rectify the evil by 
mob-law, and insurrections were common over 
the kingdom. The landed proprietors and the 
nobility, by this act of Somerset, were alienated 
from him, and resolved to affect the ruin of so 
bold and despotic a man. Though themselves 
guilty of usurpation of lands, they yet saw that 
the duke had assumed a power which he could 
not legally hold. 

Religious revolts soon agitated the kingdom, 
which had their seat in the west, and also in 
Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. The people 
who revolted were principally of the laboring 
classes, and they generally revolted against the 
oppression of the wealthier classes rather than 
Protestantism, though in certain parts great dis- 
satisfaction was felt at the religious state of the 
government. The protector had been unfortu- 
nate in his. wars, in his statesmanship ; had been 
personally extravagant, building himself a most 
costly palace at a time when the nation was 
almost bankrupt ; and a storm had now arisen 
which he could not withstand. In his war with 
Scotland he had been unsuccessful ; in his con- 
flict with France he had been defeated ; the old 
nobility had from the first hated him ; and now 



126 THE LIFE OP 

in a time of unprecedented depression in pecuni- 
ary matters, his extravagance was such as to 
disgust the nation. Conceited, vain, and ambi- 
tious, he caused himself to be styled " Duke of 
Somerset by the grace of God," after the most 
royal manner. At this time there was a man 
in England who had the acuteness to perceive 
that Somerset's fall was inevitable, and he deter- 
mined to profit by it. He was a man of fearful 
ambition, who would not scruple at any act by 
which he might advance his fortunes ; a man 
who knew passing well how to cajole and flat- 
ter, indeed how to control men, and yet he was 
by no means possessed of the highest talent, and 
had little personal courage. He was a renowned 
soldier, possessed no settled religious principles, 
but discovering how firm the young king was 
in his devotion to the Eeformation, he became a 
Protestant. 

This man, who exercised such a sad influence 
over the fortunes of Lady Jane Grrey, was the 
Earl of Warwick, afterwards made Duke of Nor- 
thumberland. He was born in 1502, and was in 
early life attached to Cardinal Wolsey. He 
achieved many victories by land and sea, and 
now, seeing plainly that Somerset was hated by 



LADY JANE GREY. 127 

the nobility, and was losing his popularity with 
the people, he began to play a bold game for 
power. He endeavored to win the affections of 
the king, and, being one of the council, soon 
came to be Somerset's only great rival. But 
Somerset was growing unpopular, his star was 
setting in the west, while that of Warwick had 
but just arisen. The latter part of the year 1549, 
the enemies of Somerset were so bold in their 
measures against him, that he became alarmed, 
and surrounded himself with soldiers well 
equipped for defence. He was at Hampton Court, 
and the king was with him. Somerset carried the 
-king to Windsor, while the council, animated by 
Warwick, called upon the nobility throughout 
the kingdom to come to their assistance. Som- 
erset first determined to defy his enemies, and, 
by force, if necessary, retain possession of the 
monarch, but he very soon wrote a letter to the 
council, in which he stated, that provided they 
intended no harm to the king, they would find 
him, the protector, ready to agree to their re- 
quirements. They saw, at once, that Somerset 
was at their feet. Warwick had triumphed. 
The council published a proclamation, in which 
they stated clearly the misconduct of the protec- 



128 THE LIFE OF 

tor, who, at last, wrote privately t xiis greai 
enemy, Warwick, and begged of hin^ to save 
him, reminding him of their friendship in older 
days. On the 13th of October, Somerset was 
placed under arrest, and the misdemeanors of 
which he was guilty, were drawn up against him 
in writing, and he was carried to the Tower. 
Thus Warwick was left at the head of the gov- 
ernment, and, of course, had constant access to 
the king, whom he soon completely controlled. 
In 1550, Somerset made a humble confession, 
that he had been guilty of the misdemeanors 
charged against him, on his knees before the 
king, in the hope that he would be dealt merci- 
fully with. He was deprived of all his offices, 
of all personal property, and of two thousand 
pounds a year from the revenue of his lands, 
lie complained of the severity of this heavy fine, 
but when the council replied harshly to him, he 
confessed that it was just. As a reward for his 
abject humility, he was, on the sixth of Febru- 
ary, released from the Tower. He conducted 
himself so humbly that he was again sworn in 
member of the privy council. The Earl of War- 
wick was made lord admiral, and great master 
of the household. An apparent reconciliatioi. 



LADY JANE GREY.' 129 

took place between "Warwick and Somerset; 
Lord Lisle, Warwick's eldest son, marrying Lady 
Anne, daughter of Somerset. But the late lord 
protector could not be content with his present 
humble position, and took secret measures for re- 
aining his old position. He conceived the idea 
of getting the king into his hands, and making 
a stand in the provinces. In October, Warwick 
was made Duke of Northumberland, and shortly- 
after, the nation was shoclced by the news that 
Somerset was again arrested, and, this time, on a 
charge of high treason. It was charged that he 
had intended to raise a revolt against the gov- 
ernment in conjunction with other noblemen, 
that he designed taking possession of the king ; 
and to prove these charges, the confessions of one 
of his tools were taken as evidence. The trial 
took place on the first of December, the duke 
being brought from the Tower to Westminster, 
with the axe of the Tower carried before him. 
The trial was a most unfair one, yet fairer than 
the trial which Somerset had acceded to his own 
brother, Admiral Seymour. He denied the 
charge against him, though he confessed that he 
had, at one time, prepared to kill Northumber- 
land, but had afterwards given up the idea. The 
f 9 



130 THE LIFE OF 

charge of treason fell through, but he was found 
guilty of felony, and sentenced to be beheaded. 
He was carried back to the Tower, unaccom- 
panied by the terrible axe, inasmuch as he had 
been acquitted of the charge of treason. 

The execution took place on Friday, the 22d 
of January, and the king, in his journal, thus 
early makes a note of his uncle's death : 

" The Duke of Somerset had his head cut off 
upon Tower-hil], between eight and nine o'clock 
in the morning." 

Early in the morning, London was astir, for 
though the Duke of Somerset had been a proud, 
ambitious and extravagant man, yet the people 
could not entirely lose their old love for him, 
and now that his day of doom had come, their 
sympathies were deeply roused. The Lord- 
Mayor of London and the constables required 
that every household remain within doors until 
after ten o'clock, to prevent a gathering of the 
people, or an insurrection. Notwithstanding this 
order, by seven o'clock Tower-hill was covered 
by an immense multitude of people. The duke 
was perfectly calm, kneeling down, and repeat- 
ing a few short prayers. After this, he rose, and 
walked to the east side of the scaffold, and spoke 



LADY JANI, GREY. 131 

to the people. He said that he had never by 
word or deed offended against the king, and that 
he did not repent at any of his doings while 
lord protector. He certainly must have forgot- 
ten his base treatment of his brother Seymour, 
or else he spoke hypocritically. While he was 
speaking, a great noise was heard, and a man 
was seen to ride swiftly towards the Tower. Im- 
mediately there rose a great cry of " A pardon I 
a pardon ! God save the king !" The duke in- 
formed the people that they were mistaken, 
though, at first, it is likely that he himself had 
faint hopes that the horseman might bear news 
of a reprieve. He requested the multitude to be 
quiet lest their tumult should disturb his calm- 
ness, which was so desirable at such an hour. 
He then knelt down again, and prayed with 
seeming fervency, the people watching him with 
swelling hearts, and some with streaming faces. 
He then stood up before them, and with a 
clear, calm face bade the sheriffs farewell, then 
the Lieutenant of the Tower, and all others on 
the scaffold with him. He gave the executioner 
some money, and then took off his gown, and 
knelt down on the straw, untying his shirt- 
strings, and turning his collar down from his 



-182 THE LITE OF 

neck, that his head might be severed easily and 
quickly. When he laid his neck upon the block 
his cheeks grew red, but immediately a cap was 
put over his face. He repeated the name of 
Jesus slowly, and, at the third time, the axe 
descended, and he was instantly killed. Hun- 
dreds of the spectators rushed up and dipped 
their handkerchiefs in the blood, that they might 
keep them in memory of the beheaded duke. 
This proves pretty clearly that the people yet 
loved him ; still they remembered how a few 
years before, he had sacrificed the life of his 
brother without the least hesitancy or apparent 
compunction of conscience. The fate of the 
duke, therefore, seemed to be a judgment of 
God, and whether or not he deserved his fate on 
account of treason to the state, or felony, it is 
pretty certain that he deserved it on account of 
his own criminality in other transactions. Sev- 
eral persons perished with the Duke of Somer- 
set as his accomplices, and among them Sir 
Ralph Yane, who, well knowing that the Duke of 
Northumberland was at the bottom of their mur- 
der, said boldly, that as often as Northumberland 
laid his head on his pillow he would find it wet 
with their blood. Whether or not it was so, the 



LADY JANE GREY. l33 

dake was destined to feel the retributive hand 
of Providence a few years later. 

Parliament met the day after the execution of 
Somerset, and it was found that the members 
could hardly be counted on as the hearty sup- 
porters of the existing government. 

The truth was, that the Duke of Northumber- 
land by his execution of Somerset had outraged 
the feelings of the nation, and they soon learned 
to hate while they feared him. He met with 
bold opposition in parliament, and out of it, and 
if he now would, he might have learned a lesson 
which would have saved his life. But his am- 
bition was so towering, that opposition only 
whetted his appetite for more power, and his 
schemes grew still bolder and more magnificent. 
He, at one time, purposed to marry his son. Lord 
Guildford Dudley, to the daughter of the Earl of 
Cumberland, and, it is said, the king planned 
the match, and if so, it renders probable the 
story, that he was himself attached to Lady Jane 
Grey, and intended to make her his wife. But 
Northumberland soon dropped this project for a 
new vision opened upon his ambitious eyes. 
The king, for some time, had been declining in 
Ijealth, and was now so seriously ill as to alarm 



134 THE LIFE OF 

the nation. His constitution ever was delicate • 
in the spring of the previous year, he was at- 
tacked by the measles and small-pox, and being 
ill for a long time, his frame was very much en- 
feebled, and it seemed impossible for him to re- 
gain even his accustomed robustness. In the 
spring of 1553, he caught a violent cold, which 
was aggravated by injudicious treatment, and a 
disease of the lungs was the consequence. Some 
declared that he was under the influence of slow 
but subtle poisons, administered to him by 
persons at court, but there is not the slightest 
foundation for a belief in any such story. Un- 
doubtedly, that slow but terrible disease, the 
consumption, was fastened upon the young, but 
wise and pious king, and the Duke of Northum- 
berland saw that he probably had not long to 
live. It was this state of things which aroused 
the fiery ambition of his nature, and led him to 
project schemes which were destined to prove the 
ruin of not only himself, but of many others, among 
whom, stands first and fairest, the gentle Lady 
Jane Grey. The duke saw that the young king 
was warmly devoted to Protestantism, knew that 
Edward was well aware of the Princess Mary's 
half-concealed love for the Catholic religion, and 



LADY JANE GREY. ' 135 

he trusted that he could persuade him to over- 
turn the will of Henry VIIL, and leave the 
crown to Lady Jane Grey, It was a wild and 
unrighteous project, which was probably entirely 
concealed from the duke's best friends until 
ripe for execution, and kept carefully away from 
Lady Jane until after the death of the king. 
Northumberland proposed that his son, Lord 
Lord Guildford Dudley, should marry Lady 
Jane, and thus he woiild be father to the Queen 
of England, provided his plan should succeed. 



CHAPTER VII. 

LADY JANE GREY. DESCRIPTION OF HER PERSON. HER LiARNINO 

AND VIRTUES. — NORTHUMBERLAND'S PROJECTS. IMAGINARY CON- 
VERSATION BETWEEN ROGER ASCHAM AND LADY JANE. HER MAR- 
RIAGE WITH LORD GUILDFORD DUDLEY. — EDWARD VI. A VICTIM TO 

NORTHUMBERLAND. MAKES HIS WILL IN FAVOR OF LADY JANE 

GREY. TROUBLES WITH THE COUNCIL. INNOCENCE OF LADY JANE. 

Lady Jane Gkey was now sixteen years old, 
and, perhaps, one of the most beautiful women 
in England. Her beauty was of a style some- 
what rare in that age. She was not command- 
ing, imperious and passionately beautiful. Her 
beauty was surmounted by the most exquisite 
loveliness of character. She was gentle, kind 
and affectionate ; though a learned scholar, she 
was no mere "blue-stocking." A painting of 
her at this time, which is still preserved, repre- 
sents her as having a very fair, broad and beau- 
tiful brow, eyebrows of jet, a small and exquisite 
mouth, and a face on which sits the very spirit 
of meekness and subdued beauty. She wears a 



LADY JANE GEEY, 137 

very large head-dress, which almost entire- 
ly covers her hair from sight. A few locks are 
seen upon the temple. Around her neck there 
is a high collar or partlet, as it was called, stand- 
ing upright, and very richly embroidered. The 
neck and a slight glimpse of the bosom are to be 
seen — in the latter, there is a beautiful bouquet 
of flowers. Gowns at this time were generally 
cut square in the neck, and were often splendidly 
enriched by costly sleeves and a habit-shirt, the 
collar of which standing upright was ingeniously 
and handsomely embroidered. 

A Holbein painting of Lady Jane represents 
her without her partlet, her neck and bosom 
almost bare, with the exception of necklaces and 
jewels. Her hair in this painting is surmounted 
by a low head-dress, and falls down upon the 
back of her neck. In both pictures, the face is 
very sweet and beautiful, and in the latter, there 
is a pensiveness which would almost make one 
suppose that, when it was taken, she anticipated, 
by presentiment, her sorrowful fate. 

Burton, an ancient writer, says of Lady Jane : 
" That most admired Princess, Jane Grey, who 
being but young, attained to such excellent learn- 
ing, both in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin tongues, 



138 THE LIFE OF 

and also in the study of divinity, by the instruc- 
tion of Mr. Aylmer, as appeareth by her many 
writings, letters, etc., that as Mr. Fox saith of 
her, had her fortune been answerable to her 
bringing up, undoubtedly she might have been 
compared to the house of Yespasiaus, Lemproni- 
aus, and Cornelia, mother of the Gracchi, in 
Rome ; and, in these days, the chiefest men in 
the universities." 

Fox says : 

" She hath the innocency of childhood, the 
beauty "of youth, the solidity of middle, the grav- 
ity of old age, and all at sixteen ; the birth of a 
princess, the learning of a clerk, the life of a 
saint, yet the death of a malefactor for her pa- 
rents' offences. I confess I never read of any 
canonized saint of her name ; a thing whereof 
some papists are so scrupulous, that they count 
it an unclean and unhallowed thing to be of a 
name whereof never any saint was — but let this 
worthy lady pass for a saint ; and let all great 
ladies which bear her name imitate her virtues ; 
to whom I wish her inward holiness, but far 
more outward happiness." 

Still anot..er writer says: 

" She had a perfection noble and holy, a 



LADY JANE GREY. 139 

strength remarkable in one of her sex, a lady in 
all goodness so perfect that whosoever could gain 
but some part of her shadow, might have enough 
in latter days to boast, and rank themselves with 
the most virtuous." 

Fuller says : 

" No lady which led so many pious, lived so 
few pleasant days ; her soul was never out of the 
nonage of afflictions, till death made her of full 
years to inherit happiness ; so severe was her 
education. Whilst a child, her father's house 
was a house of correction ; nor did she write 
woman sooner than she did subscribe wife, and, 
in obedience to her parents, was unfortunately 
matched to the Lord Guildford Dudley, whose 
worse fault was that he was son to an ambitious 
father " 

Sir Thomas Chaloner, in an elegy upon her 
death, commends her beauty, but much more 
her charming conversation. He says, she was 
well versed in. eight languages; had natural wit, 
and that much improved by art and study ; that 
she played instrumental music well ; wrote an 
excellent hand ; yet was mild, humble and mod- 
est, " and never showed an elated mind until 
she manifested it at her death." Lady Jane not 



140 THE LIFE OF 

only played on instraments, but had a very sweet 
voice, and sang beautifully, according to contem- 
porary writers. 

Bishop Latimer says : 

" She was handsome, learned beyond imagina- 
tion, of a most acute wit, and for prudence even 
at her age superior to her sex ; extremely pious ; 
devoted to the reformed faith ; and so far from 
aspiring to the honor, that she took the regalia 
with tears." 

And Burnet says : 

" With all her advantages of birth and parts, 
yet she was so humble, so gentle, and pious, that 
all people both admired and loved her, and none 
more than the youthful Edward." 

The young king continued to grow worse, and 
the Duke of Northumberland resolved upon car- 
rying out his daring projects in reference to the 
crown. The Parliament met in March of this 
year (1553), but sat only four weeks, leaving 
Northumberland in possession of the govern- 
ment. The monarch was in such ill health that 
his will was completely subjected to that of the 
duke, and the kingdom was virtually ruled by 
Northumberland. Foreseeing the death of Ed- 
ward, he determined to snatch the crown away 



LADY JANE GREY. 141 

from the Princess Mary, whose it would be law- 
fully and justly by right of succession, and re- 
tain it in his own family. To do this, it would 
be necessary to make a tool of the king, and, 
also, of Lady Jane Grey. It would be necessary, 
first, to marry Lady Jane to his son, secondly, to 
strengthen his own position by other marriages, 
allying himself to eminent families, thirdly, to 
coax Edward to bequeath the crown to Lady 
Jane, or force him to do it, and finally, to con- 
ceal carefully his intentions from the virtuous 
and innocent Lady Jane, whose whole nature 
would rebel against the idea of an unjust usur- 
pation of the crown until the last moment, when 
through her love for her friends, and, especially, 
her fear of her parents, and her devotion to Pro- 
testantism, she could be forced into accepting the 
responsible part which was to be allotted to her 
in this unfortunate drama. If Northumberland's 
energy and talent had equalled his ambition, 
there is no doubt but he might have succeeded 
in his plans, for the cause of the Reformation 
was loved by a large portion of the people, and 
Lady Jane Grey was looked upon with affection 
everywhere. 

Northumberland determined to marry his 



142 THE LIFE OF 

daughter, Lady Katharine, to Lord HastingSi 
eldest son of the Earl of Huntingdon ; Loid 
Herbert eldest son of the earl of Pembroke, to 
Lady Katharine Grey, younger sister to Lady 
Jane; and his fourth son. Lord Guildford Dud- 
ley, to Lady Jane Grey. In the age of which 
we write it was not customary for parents to 
consult their children in reference to their mat- 
rimonial projects, and it is not probable that 
Lady Jane was consulted in reference to the 
marriage with Lord Guildford, her father, the 
duke of Suffolk, and Northumberland arrang- 
ing the union with all its preliminaries. But 
the light of history is clear enough for us to 
discover that. Lady Jane soon loved Dudley. 
He was scarcely twenty years of age, tall and 
graceful, and quite handsome, and well calcu- 
lated to win the heart of the Lady Jane, who 
was almost a girl, and naturally very affec- 
tionate. The families had long been intimate, 
and it is likely that Guildford and Jane were 
well acquainted with each other ; and possibly 
they were, before the marriage was spoken of, 
attached to each other. The courtship, how- 
ever, was of short continuance, being consum- 
mated quickly by marriage It cannot be de- 



LADY JANE GREY. 14b 

nied that the marriage was planned by Nor- 
thumberland and the Duke of Suffolk, and, at 
least on their part, was a match of ambition, but 
Guildford and Jane as yet knew nothing of the 
proposed after-usurpation of the crown. 

Walter Savage Landor — one of the most beau- 
tiful of the English authors — in his '■^Imaginary 
Conversations " has one imaginary interview be- 
tween Lady Jane, at this time, and her old 
friend Roger Ascham. Although purely ficti- 
tious, we will quote it here : — 

Ascham. — Thou art going, my dear young 
lady, into a most awful state; thou art passing 
into matrimony and great wealth. God hatb 
willed it; submit in thankfulness. Thy affeoi 
tions are rightly placed and well distributed 
Love is a secondary passion in those who love 
most, a primary in those who love least. He 
who is inspired by it in a high degree is in- 
spired by honor in a higher; it never reaches 
its plenitude of growth and perfection but in 
the most exalted minds. Alas ! alas ! 

Jane. — What aileth my virtuous Ascham? 
Why do I tremble? 

Aschayn. — I remember a sort of prophesy, 
made three years ago ; it was the prophecy of 



144 THE LIFE OF 

thy condition, and of my feelings on it. Recol 
lectest thoa who wrote, sitting upon the sea- 
beach, the evening after an excursion to the 
Isle of Wight, these verses? 

" Invisibly bright water ! so like air, 

On looking down I feared thou couldst not bear 
My little bark, of all light barks most light, 
And looked again and drew me from the sight 
And held tlie bench, not to go on so fast." 

Jane. — I was very childish when 1 composed 
them, and if I had thought any more about the 
matter, I should have hoped that you would 
have been too generous to keep them in your 
memory as witnesses against me. 

Ascham. — ^Nay, they are not so much amiss 
for so young a girl, and there being so few of 
them, I did not reprove thee. Half an hour I 
thought might have been spent more unprofita- 
bly ; and I now shall believe it firmly, if thou 
wilt be led by them to meditate a little on the 
similarity of situations in which then thou wert, 
to what thou art now in. 

Jane. — I will do it and whatever else you 
command, for I am weak by nature and very 
timorous, unless where a strong sense of duty 
holdeth and supporteth me. There God acteth, 
and not his creatures. There were with me at 



LADY JANE GREY. 145 

sea those who would have been attentive to me if 
I had seemed to be afraid, even though worship- 
ful men and women were in the company ; so 
that something more powerful threw my fear 
overboard. Yet I never will go again upon the 
water. 

Ascham. — Exercise that beauteous couple, that 
mind and body, much and variously, but at 
home, at home, Jane ! in-doors, and about things 
in- doors, for God is there too. We have rocks 
and quicksands on the banks of our Thames, O 
lady, such as ocean never heard of; and many 
— who knows how soon I — may be ingulphed 
in the current under their garden-walls. 

Jane. — Thoroughly now do I understand you. 
Yes, indeed, I have read evil things of courts, 
but I think nobody can go out bad, who enter- 
eth good, if timely and true warning shall have 
been given. 

Ascham. — I see perils on perils which thou 
dost not see, albeit thou art wiser than thy 
poor old master. And it is not because love 
hath blinded thee, for that surpasseth his sup- 
posed omnipotence ; but it is because thy tender 
heart, having always leant affectionately upon 
good, hath felt and known nothing of evil. T 
^ 10 



146 THE LIFE OF 

once persuaded thee to reflect luuc. , let me 
now persuade thee to avoid the habitude o^ 
reflection, to lay aside books, and to gaze care- 
fully and steadfastly on what is under and be 
fore thee, 

Jayie. — I have well bethought me of my duties. 
how extensive they are ! What a goodly and 
fair inheritanc3 ! But tell me, would you com- 
mand me never more to read Cicero, and Epicle- 
tus, and Polybus ? The others I do resign : 
they are fit for the arbor and the gravel-walk: 
yet leave unto me, I beseech you, my friend 
and father, leave unto me for my fireside and 
for my pillow, truth, eloquence, courage, con- 
stancy. 

Ascham. — Eead them on thy marriage-bed, 
on thy child-bed, on thy death-bed. Thou spot- 
less, undrooping lily, they have fenced thee 
right well. These are the men for men ; these 
are to fashion the bright and blessed creatures 
whom God shall one day smile upon in thy 
chaste bosom. Mind thou thy husband. 

Jane. — I sincerely love the youth who hath 
espoused me ; I love him with the fondest, the 
most solicitous affection. I pray to the Al- 
mighty for his goodno5ss and happiness, and do 



LADY JANE GREY. 147 

forget at times, unworthy suppliant, the prayers 
I should have offered for mj^self. Never fear 
that I will disparage my kind religious teacher, 
by disobedience to my husband in the most 
trying duties. 

Ascham. — Gentle is he, gentle and virtuous; 
but time will harden him : time must harden 
even thee, sweet Jane ! Do then complacently 
and indirectly lead him from ambition. 

Jane. — He is contented with me and with 
home. 

Ascham,. — Ah, Jane ! Jane ! Men of high es- 
tate grow tired of contented ness. 

Jane. — He told me he never liked books unless 
I read them to him : I will read them to him 
every evening: I will offer new worlds to him, 
richer than those discovered by the Spaniards : 
I will conduct him to treasures, what treasures ! 
on which he may sleep in innocence and peace. 

Ascham. — Rather do thou walk with him, ride 
with him, play with him, be his fairy, his page, 
his everything that love and poetry have invent- 
ed ; but watch him well, sport with his fancies, 
turn them about like the ringlets round his cheek: 
and if ever he meditateth on power, go toss up 
thy baby to his brow, and bring back his 



l48 THE LIFE OP 

thouglits into his heart by the music of thy dis- 
course. Teach him to live unto God, and unto 
thee ; and he will discover that women, like the 
plants in woods, derive their softness and tender- 
ness from the shade." 

During the last week of May, the marriage of 
Lady Jane Grey with Lord Guildford Dudley 
was celebrated at Durham House, in the Strand, 
the residence of the Dake of Northumberland. 
No more appropriate time could have been 
chosen for the marriage of the innocent and love- 
ly Lady Jane, than that of the English May. At 
the same time and place, two other marriages 
were solemnized — those of Lady Katharine Grey 
with Lord Herbert, and Lady Katharine Dudley 
with Lord Hastings. The marriage ceremonifs 
of these illustrious weddings were conducted 
magnificently, and a vast deal of show and pa- 
geantry were thrown about them. It was very 
proper that the day should be shrouded in so- 
lemnity, but the splendor of the occasion would 
have passed unheeded, could those who took 
part in the grand ceremonies only have looked 
forward a few months into the future. The 
young king was pleased with the match of Lady 
Jane, and it is said, that the last smiles which 



LADY JANE GREY. 149 

graced his face were those seen there on this occa- 
sion. The court had already begun to pat on the 
hue of mourning, in its tone of feeling, in anticipa- 
tion of Edward's death, but now, for a few days, 
there was pomp and ceremony and general glad- 
ness. Edward ordered the master of the ward- 
robe to give to Lady Jane much wedding apparel, 
as well as many jewels. Lady Jane, attired in a 
dress embroidered with gold, between two pages, 
and followed by a train of maidens, entered the 
wedding apartment. "When the ceremony was 
performed, and it was known to the people in 
the streets, there was a general rejoicing. Nor- 
thumberland was hated by the people for his 
terrible ambition, but they loved Lady Jane, and 
could not dislike the young and harmless Dud- 
ley, her husband. The nuptials were celebrated 
at court with great splendor, and for several 
days there was general rejoicing and festivity. 

As soon as the marriage ceremonies were fair- 
ly over, Lord Guildford and Lady Jane, the 
summer being opened, retired to Sion House, a 
seat of the Dudley family, to enjoy their honey- 
moon. The spot was very beautiful, and the 
season of the year was also charming, and with- 
out doubt the youthful couple here tasted a 



150 THELIFE OF 

happiness wliicli was destined to be their last 
upon earths Lady Jane wrote a third letter to 
Bullinger from this place, and it is preserved to 
this day in the library at Zurich. 

Northumberland, who was constantly by the 
side of the king, saw that he now was declining 
so rapidly that he must execute his long contem- 
plated schemes of aggrandizement and power. 
He first took care to gain the consent of the 
Duchess of Suffolk to transfer her own right of 
succession to her daughter Lady Jane. This was 
easily accomplished, though it was an unwar- 
ranted and eflFeminate proceeding. There now 
stood, in the event of Edward's death, which was 
absolutely certain, between Lady Jane Grey, 
Northumberland's daughter-in-law, but two per- 
sonages — the Princesses Mary and Elizabeth. Ac- 
cording to all the acknowledged principles of 
hereditary right, the first right of succession be- 
longed to the Princess Mary, who was Henry 
VIII.'s eldest living child. But by her father's 
act, by act of Parliament, she had, together with 
the Princess Elizabeth, been bastardized. Henry 
had, however, in his will, made in 1544, given 
to Mary the right of succession. He passed by 
the right of the descendants of his older sister 



LADY JANE GREY. 151 

Margaret to the crown, and placed next in order, 
as to the right of succession, the descendants of 
his younger sister Mary, Duchess of Suffolk. 
Northumberland saw that it would not do for 
him, upon the death of the king, to place Lady 
Jane upon the throne without special authority, 
for if the right really lay in the Brandon branch, 
the Duchess of Suffolk was the proper person to 
wear the crown. He, therefore, began to work 
upon the mind of the king to induce him to wil"! 
his crown to Lady Jane Grey. 

The king was a warm-hearted Protestant, and 
lying at the point of death, was an easy subject 
for an artful man to practise upon. The duke 
represented to him, that in case he did not make 
a will leaving the crown to Lady Jane, it would 
surely fall to the Princess Mary, who was a big 
oted Roman Catholic, and who would persecute 
those persons who were attached to the princi- 
ples of the Reformation. The Princess Elizabeth, 
who was a Protestant, must also be set aside, be- 
cause her father had by act of Parliament bas- 
tardized her, and if this act of bastardy were not 
acknowledged to be of force, neither could the 
same act against Lady Mary be binding ; so, ac- 
cording to the reasoning of Northumberland, no 



152 THE LIFE OF 

other course was open but to will the crown to 
Lad J Jane Grej. Yet a more reckless usurpa- 
tion of the crown scarcely ever occurred. In 
the hearts of the people everywhere, Catholic or 
Protestant, there was a strong devotion to the 
principles of hereditary right, and they would 
not see the Princess Mary wronged. The same 
feeling was in the heart of Lady Jane Grey, who 
knew nothing of the mighty plans which were 
in embryo, and which concerned herself more 
closely than any other person in the kingdom. 
It is not known whether the king was convinced 
by the arguments of Northumberland, or so sur- 
rounded by his servants as to lack the courage 
to deny him his wish, but he consented to make 
a will. He at first supposed, of course, that he 
was to bequeath the crown to Lady Suffolk, but 
upon being told that she consented to relinquish 
her right to her daughter Jane, Edward made no 
objection to the change. Had he been usually 
well, he must have detected the utter madness 
of this scheme, for the Duchess of Suffolk was 
yet liable to bear children, and in case she were 
to have a son, he would indisputably have a right 
to the throne. Thus deliberately was an avenue 
left open to civil war. 



LADY JANE GREY. 153 

The king first sketched with his own hand a 
draft of the proposed entail of the crown, and 
on the 11th of June sent for Sir Edward Mon- 
tague, chief justice of the common pleas, Sir 
Thomas Bromley, a puisne justice of the same- 
court, Sir Eichard Baker, chancellor of the aug- 
mentations, and Goswold and GryfFjn, the at- 
torney and solicitor-general, to attend the coun- 
cil at court. When they came he stated to 
them what he had done, gave the reasons for 
the proceeding, and wished them to draw up an 
assignment of the crown to Lady Jane. They 
replied that the act of Parliament settled the 
succession, and they had no power over it. On 
the 14th of June they again met the council, 
when they declared to the king that they could 
not execute his wish without subjecting them- 
selves to the charge of treason. Northumber- 
land was beside himself with rage, and swore 
that he was ready to fight any man in so just a 
cause, and declared afterwards he was ready 
to have beaten these men. Such was the earn- 
estness of the king, and the terrible anger of 
Northumberland, that they at last consented to 
draw up an assignment of the crown. There 
was one exception. Hales, though a Protestant, 



154 THE LIFE OF 

was sc fully imbued with a sense of the injust ^e 
of the proceeding, that he refused to have any 
part in the matter. The will was prepared, 
engrossed on parchment, and had the great seal 
afl&xed to it. On the 21st of June it received the 
signature of the lords in council, of almost all 
of the judges, and of the attorney and solicitor- 
general. Twenty-four members of the council 
pledged their oaths to defend to the uttermost 
the will of the king, and if any man should ever 
attempt to alter it, to punish him as an enemy 
of the kingdom. The will in question asserted 
that Mary and Elizabeth were rendered incapa- 
ble of inheriting the crown. It also declared 
that the descendants of Mary, sister of Henry 
VIIL, were of the whole blood to Edward by 
the father's side, that they were " natural born 
within the realm, very honorably brought up, 
and exercised in good and godly learning, and 
other noble virtues, so that there is great trust 
and hope to be had in them that they be and 
shall be very well inclined to the advancement 
and setting forth of our common wealth." 

The conclusion of the will was as follows : — 
" The king doth, therefore, upon good delib- 
eration and advice, herein had and taken, by 



LADY JANE GREY. 155 

tliese presents declare, order, assign, limit, and 
appoint, that if it shall fortune us to decease, 
leaving no issue of our body lawfully begotten, 
that then the said imperial crown and realm 
shall be unto the eldest son of the said Lady 
Frances, wife of the Duke of Suffolk and grand 
daughter of Henry VIII., lawfully begotten, 
being born into the world in our life-time, and 
to the heirs male of the said eldest son," etc., 
etc., and in default of which, " to the Lady 
Jane, eldest daughter of the said Lady Frances." 

Archbishop Cranmer for a time refused to 
sign this will, indeed absented himself from 
council to avoid being asked, but the king sent 
to him and begged of him earnestly to do so, 
and he at length consented, though much against 
his own will. It was not that he loved Mary, 
or was particularly unwilling to bastardize her, 
but he had an affection for Elizabeth, who he 
well knew was at heart a warm Protestant. 
There were other notable men who signed the 
will with more or less unwillingness, and a few 
who would not consent to do it at all. 

Edward now began to exhibit symptoms of 
immediate death. His breathing, which for a 
long time had been difficult, now grew still 



156 THE LIFE OF 

worse ; his pulse was scarcely perceptible ; hia 
limbs swelled to an unusual size, and his coun- 
tenance wore the livid hue of death. There 
was no feeling of disappointment in those around 
the orphan-king ; indeed, the feeling of sorrow 
had lost its poignancy, from the fact that his 
death had been considered as a settled event, 
soon to occur, for many months. The majority 
of the court were creatures of Northumberland, 
and they well knew that their master expected to 
found his fortunes upon the decease of the king ; 
— it could not be expected that they should 
mourn Edward's demise. But there was a large 
class who felt the most poignant sorrow at the 
calamity which in a few days was to befall the 
nation. They were men who loved the principles 
of the Eeformation, and who also loved justice. 
Edward was, though young, a true-hearted Pro- 
testant, and if he had lived, would have been a 
friend to liberty, literature, and an cilightened 
religion. The greatest possible contrast existed 
between his reign and that of his father, Henry 
VIII. The one was ferocious, blood-thirsty, and 
irreligious, though pretending to a love for good 
things. The other was mild almost to ineffi- 
ciency, gentle as a girl, full of lovely piety, and 



LADY JANE GEEY. 157 

fond of classic literature. Under Henry the 
nation held its breath for fear; under Edward 
it was free and happy, notwithstanding the in- 
numerable insurrections and commotions, which 
were partly a result of Henry's previous tyranny, 
and the wretched statesmanship of Edward's 
ministers. 

When the month of July was ushered in, it 
became certain that Edward could survive but <$ 
few days. His physicians declared that they 
could do no more for him. He was given over 
to the care of a miserable female quack, and 
sunk with alarming rapidity to his grave. The 
6th day of July was his last day upon earth. 
In the evening of that day, while engaged in 
prayer, calm and fearless as a saint, the gentle 
prince expired, having lived nearly sixteen years, 
and reigned six years and five months, 



CHAPTER VIII. 

THE PRINCESS MARY. — HER EARLY MORTIFICATIONS. HER DISGRACE. 

FRUITLESS ATTEMPTS AT MARRIAGE. NORTHUMBERLAND'S TREAT- 
MENT OF MARY. REMARKS UPON HER CHARACTER. 

It will be proper for us here to give a short 
sketch of that princess who was the legitimate 
successor to Edward VI., and by whose hand 
Lady Jane Grey met her fate. Unless Queen 
Mary's previous history is taken into account, 
the reader will scarcely be able to understand 
the secret of her severe, and oftentimes heartless 
conduct. The Prmcess Mary was born at Green- 
wich Palace on February 18th, 1516, and was 
consequently, upon the death of Edward, nearly 
thirty-eight years of age. She was the daughter 
of Henry YIII. by Katharine of Arragon. When 
only six years old she was betrothed to the Em- 
peror Charles Y., and she was, accordingly, edu- 
cated for a brilliant position. Three years after 
this, rumors came to England that the emperor 



LADY JANE GREY. 159 

meant to desert Mary, and was already engaged 
to Isabel of Portugal. Mary grew pale with jeal- 
ousy, though only eight years of age, which 
certainly indicated a frightful precocity of the 
passions. A year after the emperor married 
Isabel. This was the first of a long series of dis- 
appointments in her life, every one of which was 
calculated to inflict the severest wound upon a 
woman's nature. At this period of her life she 
was the heiress to the crown of England, and was 
called the Princess of Wales. She was a lovely 
child, being obedient, intelligent, and cheerful in 
her disposition. Francis I. of France at this 
time entered into negotiations respecting Mary, 
but finally married Eleanora. He professed after 
this a desire to marry his son Henry to the prin- 
cess Mary, but about this time, the doubts in 
reference to her legitimacy were first broached, 
and her matrimonial projects were rendered 
hopeless. Henry YIII. separated from his wife, 
and declared Mary to be the offspring of an in- 
cestuous marriage. No keener mortification 
could it possibly have been Mary's lot to feel, 
and it is a wonder that she did not go mad. 
To add to her sorrow, she was torn from her 
mother's arms, to behold her again no more 



160 THE LIFE OF 

This cruel act could only have been perpetrated 
by a monster. Her mother wrote to her, for she 
was truly a blessed woman, and endeavored to 
cheer her with hopes of brighter days in the 
future. It was not until the birth of Elizabeth 
that Henry completely disinherited Mary. At 
the age of seventeen, Mary came to court to wit- 
ness the ceremonies surrounding the birth of 
Elizabeth. Henry required that she should greet 
the new born princess according to her rank, as 
heir to the crown, but she refused. " Sister, I 
will call the babe," said she, " but nothing more." 
Henry threatened, but Mary w^as firm, for she 
would not consent, at that time, to acknowledge 
her mother's disgrace. The privy council com- 
manded her to lay aside the title of princess, and 
demanded that her own servants should not ad 
dress her by any title. During this year, James 
Y. became suitor for the hand of Mary, notwith 
standing her situation, but his suit was refused 
by the king peremptorily. In the beginning of 
1534, her disgrace was made complete by act of 
Parliament, which took away from her her rights 
and titles, and declared her to be an illegitimate 
child. Her establishment was broken up, and 
fene was taken from her dear old frirnd the 



LADY JANE GREY. 161 

Countess of Salisbury, and was transferred to an 
apartment in the household of the princess Eliz- 
abeth. This was heaping insult upon injury. 
If the heart of Mary was not soured by such 
cruel treatment, by such misfortunes which 
thickly clustered in her path, she was an ex- 
ception, and a remarkable one, among her sex. 

When Mary was twenty years old her mother 
died. She begged the privilege of kissing her 
lips in death, of taking one farewell look of the 
being who had brought her into the world, but 
her wish was cruelly refused. This treatment pro- 
ceeded from a man who professed dissatisfaction 
with the Romish religion, and it only tended to 
render Mary still more intense in her devotion 
to that church which had defended her, and 
coldly declared the wrongs which her mother 
had suffered. 

The death of a male heir at this time gave 
the friends of Mary more hope, and the new 
queen, Jane Seymour, seems to have looked 
upon her with some affection. Mary began to 
hope for a place again in her father's heart, but 
the king told her that the price of her res- 
toration to court must be her acknowledgment 
that her mother's marriage was incestuous. At 
11 



162 THE LIFE OP 

first she bitterly rebelled against such a require- 
ment, but upon consideration she thought it 
politic to sign her own disgrace, hoping that 
when she was received into the society of her 
father, she might -win him to grant her a portion 
of her natural rights. She loved the king, it is 
said, — though how this can have been true we 
cannot conceive, — and was exceedingly desirous 
of seeing him. She was, also, without any judi- 
cious friend to guide her, and finally consented 
to acknowledge that the marriage of her mother 
was incestuous, and consequently that her own 
birth was illegitimate. It is impossible to apol- 
ogize for this disgraceful act. Mary believed 
the marriage of her mother to have been a most 
righteous, though very unfortunate one, had not 
the slightest doubts in reference to her own 
legitimate birth, yet she deliberately consented 
to belie her own dearest convictions, to cover 
with shame the memory of a pious mother, for 
the sake of peace with the king. We can ac- 
count for this act only upon the ground that by 
repeated misfortunes and mortifications Mary's 
heart had become hardened, and that she did 
not look upon the disgrace of illegitimacy with 
so much horror as she had done a few years 



LADY JANE GREY. 163 

before. The following is a copy of tlie remark- 
able acknowledgment of her own degrada- 
tion : — 

" LADY MARY's SUBMISSION". 

"The confession of me, the Lady Mary, made 
upon certain points and articles under written, 
in the which, as I do now plainly and with all 
mine heart confer and declare mine inward sen- 
tence, belief, and judgment, with a due conform- 
ity of obedience to the laws of the realm, so 
minding ever to persist and continue in this 
determination, without change, alteration, or va- 
riance, I do most humbly beseech the king's 
highness, my father, whom I have obstinately 
and inobediently offended, in the denial of the 
same heretofore, to forgive my offences therein, 
and to take me to his most gracious mercy. 

" First, I confess and acknowledge the king's 
majesty to be my sovereign lord and king, in the 
imperial crown of this realm of England, and to 
submit to his highness, and to all and singular 
laws and statutes of this realm, as becometh a true 
and faithful subject to do, which I shall obey, 
keep, observe, advance, and maintain, according 
to my bounden duty, with all the power, force, 



164 THE LIFE OF 

and qualities that God hath indued me, during 
ray life. (Signed) Mary. 

"Item. I do recognize, accept, take, repute, 
and acknowledge the king's highness to be su- 
preme head in earth under Christ, of the Church 
of England, and do utterly refuse the bishop of 
Eome's pretended authority, power, and jurisdic- 
tion, within this realm heretofore usurped, ac- 
cording to the laws and statutes made in that 
behalf, and of all the king's true subjects hum- 
bly received, admitted, obeyed, kept, and ob 
served ; and also do utterly renounce and for- 
sake all manner of remedy, interest, and advan- 
tage which I may by any means claim by time, 
or in any wise hereafter, by any manner, title 
color, mean, or case that is, shall or can be d& 
vised for that purpose. (Signed) Mary. 

" Item. I do freely, frankly, and for the dis- 
charge of my duty towards God, the king's 
highness, and his laws, without other respect, 
recognize and acknowledge that the marriage 
heretofore had between his majesty and my 
mother, the late princess-dowager, was by God'3 
law and man's law, incestuous and unlawful., 
(Signed) " Mary." 



LADY JANE GREY. 165 

Mary's household was now established upon a 
comfortable footing, and in the autumn overtures 
were made for her marriage with Henry, Duke 
of Orleans. The king even hinted that she 
might be restored to her right of succession. It 
is supposed by some historians that at this time 
Mary loved the celebrated Eeginald Pole, and 
that she intended one day to marry him. But 
Henry continued to negotiate for her marriage 
with foreign princes, all of his plans proving 
unsuccessful. A life more mortifying cannot 
be conceived than that which the Lady Mary 
led, for she was literally a-begging over Europe 
for a husband. When she was twenty-two years 
old an attempt was made to marry her to the 
Duke of Cleves, and her portrait was sent into 
Saxony for the purpose, but all negotiations 
failed of their intent. The next proposed alli- 
ance was with the Duke of Bavaria, but by 
Henry's treatment of Anne of Cleves, this match 
was broken off. In the year 1540 Mary's old 
schoolmaster, a zealous Catholic, suffered mar- 
tyrdom for his religion. Then her dear old 
friend, the Countess of Salisbury, met with a 
horrible end. The result was that Mary im- 
bibed a hatred of the Keformers which she was 



166 THE LIFE OF 

destined one day to gratify by still more horri* 
ble deeds. 

When Henry YIIL married Katharine, he 
restored his daughter Mary to her royal rank, 
and when he died, in his will he restored her to 
her proper place in the succession, and gave her 
a marriage portion of £10,000. 

When Dudley — afterwards Northumberland 
— came to power, he commenced a system of 
persecution against the Princess Mary on ac- 
count of her devotion to the Eomish religion. 
Her chaplains were arrested, and the council 
determined that she should not perform mass 
in her chapel. But Mary was now bigoted in 
her devotion to her religion, and would not give 
up her religious rights. She came to court and 
had an interview with Edward, declaring her 
willingness, if need be, to lay down her life. 
She was now nervous, querulous, soured, and 
possessed of a temper which she could not at all 
times control. She therefore endured the vexa- 
tious proceedings of Northumberland with much 
impatience. It was her conduct at this time 
which led Edward to consent to will the crown 
to Lady Jane Grey, who was a sincere Pro- 
testant. 



LADY JANE GREY. 167 

When Edward expired, the Princess Mary was 
nearl} thirty-eight years of age, and unmarried. 
At the early age of six years she had been 
betrothed, and at eight was cast off by her royal 
lover. Thus it will be seen that she scarcely 
entered upon life before she was doomed to 
mortification. By the injudicious treatment of 
her teachers, she was at eight led to love a man 
much her senior in years, so that his breach of 
engagement actually had a bad effect upon her 
health ! Doomed next to be separated from 
her mother, and still later to be accused of ille- 
gitimacy, and forced — she, the proud daughter 
of a king — to acknowledge her shameful condi- 
tion, and, through her whole life, to negotiations 
for marriage with an indefinite number of per- 
sons, all of which projects fell short of success — 
is it any wonder that now we behold her a bro- 
ken-hearted, crushed, almost ruined woman ? 
The father of Lady Jane Grey had used his 
talents and influence to crush Katharine of Ar- 
ragon, mother to the Princess Mary, He had 
favored the divorce, favored the degradation of 
that pious queen and her innocent daughter 
and Mary hated him, and hated his children 
Northumberland, too, had taken every sure 



168 THE LIFE OF 

method of rousing her vindictiveness, whenever 
she could exercise it with safety. He had arrest- . 
ed her chaplains, interfered in her style of wor- 
ship, and in short rendered himself odious to 
her. Lady Jane Grrey was his daughter-in-law 
— that alone were enough to decide her fate, in 
case she fell into Mary's power on a charge of 
treason, especially if on a charge of usurpation 
of the crown, which was a right now belonging 
to Mary. 

It is impossible to excuse the conduct which 
characterized the whole of Queen Mary's reign, 
and the present chapter is not an apology for 
her blood-thirsty persecutions, but merely an at- 
tempt to show the reader how Mary had become 
hardened — how she had lost that loveliness of 
character which was in reality hers when she 
was young. She was now, it cannot be denied, a 
cold-hearted, bigoted woman. Insulted, spurned, 
trodden under foot all her life, she felt willing 
to revenge herself upon the world for its cruel 
treatment of herself. That she was a pious 
woman we believe, but she was astonishingly 
bigoted and fanatical, and consequently a most 
dangerous person to sit upon the throne of Eng- 
land. More precocious in her passions than 



LADY JANE GREY. 169 

her intellect, she was, at the age of thirty-eight, 
an unpleasant woman, to say the least, for an 
intimate companion, and well fitted to act the 
part of a persecutor. Yet Mary must not be 
made responsible for all the terrible deeds which 
occurred during her reign. In many, perhaps 
the majority of instances, she was persuaded by 
cruel ministers to destroy life, and often she 
may be said scarcely to have known anythmg 
of the diabolical tortures to which some of the 
Protestants were put. There were occasions, 
too, in which she exhibited signs of the most 
tender feeling, proving that the heart which in 
her youth was filled with the gentlest attributes, 
could not ever quite lose its original character. 
But we must hurry on to the course of our 
narrative. 



CHAPTER IX. 

DEATH OF EDWARD VI. LADY JANE GREY APPRIZED OF HIS DEATH 

AND WILL. REFUSES TO ACCEPT THE CROWN. WEEPS ANB 

FAINTS — IS FORCED TO ACCEPT IT. GOES TO THE TOWER ^MARY 

IS SURROUNDED IN THE COUNTRY BY FRIENDS. PROCLAMATION 

OF LADY JANE. ADVANCE OF MARY UPON LONDON. THE NOBIH- 

•TY AND COUNCIL FLOCK TO HER STANDARD. LADY JANE GLADLY 

GIVES UP THE CROWN. ARREST OF LADY JANE AND HER HUSBAND. 

The first thing whioh Northumberland at- 
tempted to do after the death of the king, was 
to conceal that fact from the nation for a few 
days, to enable him the more surely to estab- 
lish Lady Jane Grey upon the throne, and to 
take possession of the Princess Mary, who had 
been summoned to attend the death-bed of the 
king. As soon as Edward had expired, the 
Duke of Northumberland, accompanied by the 
Duke of Suffolk, Earl of Pembroke, and other 
noblemen, proceeded to Sion House, and ac- 
knowledged Lady Jane Grey to be their queen. 
This seems to have been the first time that Lady 



LADY JANE GREY. 171 

Jane liad any definite idea in reference to the 
bestowment of the crown upon herself. Until 
now, she had been kept in perfect ignorance of 
the ambitious designs of Northumberland and 
her father, the Duke of Suffolk. True to her 
conscientious nature, she refused to take the 
crown thus offered to her ! To her there was 
no pleasure in the contemplation of a brilliant 
career as Queen of England. She was too gen- 
tle, too pious for a courtly life. And when they 
came to press upon her that crown, which was to 
her a crown of thorns, she was with her young 
lord, enjoying his caresses amid the retired but 
beautiful lands of Sion House. Her father ex- 
plained to her that Edward VI., who had just 
expired, had bequeathed the crown to her, that 
the privy council were unanimously of opinion 
that she was the lawful heir to the throne, and 
that the people of London were of the same 
opinion. The young bride was at first aston- 
ished by their representations, and when Nor- 
thumberland, her father, and other distinguished 
noblemen fell at her feet, was almost bewildered. 
But she soon calmly answered them in nearly 
the following words : — 

" The laws of the kingdom and natural right 



172 THE LIFE OF 

stand for the king's sisters, and I will beware of 
burthening a weak conscience with a yoke 
which belongeth to them ; I understand the 
infamy of those who permit the violation of 
right, to gain a sceptre; and it is mocking God 
and deriding justice, to scruple at the stealing of 
a shilling, and not at the usurpation of a crown. 
Besides, I am not so young, nor so little read in 
the guiles of fortune, to suffer myself to be taken 
by them. If she enrich any, it is but to make 
them the subject of her spoil ; if she raise others, 
it is but to pleasure herself with their ruins ; 
what she adorned but yesterday, is to-day her 
pastime ; and if I now permit her to adorn and 
crown me, I must to-morrow suffer her to crush 
and tear me to pieces. Nay, with what crown 
doth she present me ? A crown which hath been 
violently and shamefully wrested from Katha- 
rine of Arragon, made more unfortunate by the 
punishment of Anne Boleyn, and others that 
wore it after her ; and why, then, would you 
have me add my blood to theirs, and be the 
third victim from whom this fatal crown may 
be ravished, with the head that wears it ? But 
even in case that it should not prove fatal unto 
me, and that all its venom were consumed, if 



LADY JANE GREY. 173 

fortune should give me warranties of her con- 
stancy, should I be well advised to take upon 
me these thorns, which would not fail to tor- 
ment me, though I were assured not to be stran- 
gled with it? My liberty is better than the 
chain you offer me, with what precious stones 
soever it be adorned, or of what gold soever 
framed. I will not exchange my peace for hon- 
orable and precious jealousies, for magnificent 
and glorious fetters, and if you love me sincerely 
and in good earnest, you will rather wish me a 
secure and quiet fortune, though mean, than an 
exalted condition exposed to the wind, and fol- 
lowed by some dismal fall." 

We are sure that the reader will coincide with 
"US in the opinion that a more touching and elo- 
quent reply could not have been made by Lady 
Jane. Her prophetic words in reference to her 
"dismal fall" were remembered long after her 
mistake had been expiated upon the scaffold. 

Northumberland and the Duke of Suffolk 
again represented to Lady Jane, with vehement 
earnestness, that the crown was of right hers, 
and also laid fully before her the dreadful con- 
sequences which would result to the Protestant 
party if she refused to accept it, and thus con- 



174 THE LIFE OF 

tribute to the rise to power of a vindictive 
Catholic. Lady Jane had been educated to be- 
lieve that to disobey a father's command was an 
almost atrocious act. She had been accustomed 
alwaj's to obey, to give up her own will to that 
of others. Her parents were always severe in 
their education, and she was poorly fitted to 
withstand the express command of her father. 
He did not now hesitate to insist that she take 
the crown. But finally her own husband used 
his eloquence to persuade her to mount the 
throne. It is probable that before this he was 
aware of Lady Jane's brilliant p/ospects ; at any 
rate, now his heart was fired with ambition, 
and he sank upon his knees before his young 
and gentle bride, and begged of her not to 
refuse the gorgeous bauble. It is said that at 
last not merely eloquence was used by her 
friends to persuade her to take the fearful step, 
but that threats were used until she, exhausted 
wdtli weeping and frightful agitation, sank to 
the floor in a fainting fit. 

Lady Jane was only sixteen ; gentle, broken 
in spirit ; and now her lather commanded, her 
husband entreated, her councillors advised, that 
she consent to become the Queen of England 



LADY JANE GREY. iVO 

Ilcr love for Protestantism was touched ; she was 
threatened with the loss of the love of her dear- 
est friends — is it strange that she became a pas- 
sive victim in their hands ? Such was the 
fact. From this time to her death she was really 
a prisoner — first in the hands of her friends, and 
lastly in the hands of her enemies. Alas ! her 
friends were her worst enemies. 

On the 8th of July, Lady Jane appointed Lord 
Clinton constable of the Tower. This was the 
first acknowledgment of her power, by herself, 
and this act was in reality Northumberland's, for 
he controlled the queen. On the 9th, the supe- 
rior officers of the guard at Greenwich took 
oaths of allegiance to Lady Jane. The same 
day the Bishop of London preached a powerful 
sermon at St. Paul's, in favor of Lady Jane's 
acceptance of the crown. In the afternoon of 
the 10th of July, Lady Jane openly assumed a 
royal state and the government of the realm. 

But it will be necessary for us to recount the 
movements of the Princess Mary and her friends 
at this time. 

Northumberland concealed the death of Ed- 
ward, and sent for Mary to come and see her 
dying brother. His object was to gain posses- 



176 THE LIFE OF 

sion of her person. Slie started for Greenwich, 
but at Hocidesden she met a messenger who 
declared to her that Edward was dead. She 
could hardly believe the man, and very much 
feared it was a trap laid for her by her enemies. 
For if she were to assert herself Queen of Eng- 
land, if it should afterwards appear that Edward 
was yet alive, she would expose herself to the 
pains of treason. Sir Nicolas Throckmorton 
sent the messenger to her ; Sir Eobert, his 
brother, had long been her devoted adherent, 
and she said: 

" If Eobert had been at Greenwich I would 
have hazarded all things, and gaged my life on 
the leap." She staid that night near Cambridge, 
at the house of a Mr. Huddleston, and in the 
morning proceeded towards Kenninghall. When 
upon the summit of a mountain she looked back 
and saw the house in which she had lodged in 
flames. Her enemies had done the deed. " Let 
it blaze," said Mary, " I will build Huddleston a 
better !" On the 9th, at Kenninghall, Mary ad- 
dressed a letter to the privy council, offering 
pardon to them if they would proclaim her their 
sovereign. This letter was received on the 
morning of the 10th, and Northumberland at 



LADY JANE GRET. 177 

once proclaimed Lady Jane Grrey Queen of Eng- 
land. The custom had always been for a new 
sovereign to spend the few first days of a reign 
at the Tower, and Lady Jane left Sion House 
for Durham House, in London, and from that 
place proceeded by boats to the Tower. It was 
between four and five o'clock in the afternoon 
when she entered that palace and prison. She 
was followed by a numerous retinue, consisting 
of the nobility of either sex, and her train was 
borne up by her own mother, assisted by other 
ladies of the highest rank. The ordnance of the 
Tower saluted the cavalcade, and when Lady 
Jane had entered, the Marquis of "Winchester 
brought to her the crown. But she only wept 
sorrowfully, and lifted not a finger to place it 
upon her head, 'but passively waited for others 
to hold it there. At the outset of her short 
reign she seems to have been oppressed by a 
terrible weight of sorrow, so as to render hex 
scarcely capable of any action. It is prob- 
ble that she foresaw the result of all thia 
pageantry. 

As soon as Lady Jane was crowned in the 
Tower, a proclamation was issued ; at six o'clock, 

heralds with a trumpet announced the same to 
^ 12 



178 . THE LIFE 6f 

the people, claiming their allegiance. The mass 
of the people an hour before were in utter igno- 
rance of Edward's death, and thej received the 
proclamation with coolness. It was the same 
everywhere ; the people were not in favor of 
the usurpation of the crown, but dared not 
oppose it. Lady Jane was beloved, and Protest- 
antism was beloved, by the English, but they 
loved dearer yet the right of succession, and 
could not see that law of right broken. Besides 
this, the people hated intensely the Duke of 
Northumberland, and were fully aware that 
Lady Jane was his victim. The Duke was 
overbearing in his disposition, ambitious, reck- 
less, and a tyrant. Oppression from the hands 
of a legitimate monarch was pleasanter to them 
than the rule of an upstart, who would make a 
tool of the Queen Jane. It is said that Lady 
Jane noticed that in the streets she was not 
greeted with any enthusiasm, and turning to her 
husband, called his attention to the perilous fact. 
From this moment Mary's adherents were hope- 
ful, for the people at heart were on her side. 
"We give the proclamation of the queen, with 
the exception of a few unimportant para- 
graphs : 



LADY JANE GREY. 179 

" PROCLAMATION". 

" Jane, hj the grace of God Queen of Eng- 
land, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith 
and of the Church of England, and also pf Ire- 
land, under Christ on earth the supreme head. 
To all our loving, faithful, and obedient subjects, r-^fV'S^^ 
to every of them, greeting. Whereas our^^st -^ 
dear cousin, Edward the Sixth, late King of 
England, France, and Ireland, Defender of the 
Faith, and on earth the supreme head, under 
Christ, of the Church of England and Ireland, 
by his letters patent, signed with his own hand, 
and sealed with his great seal of England, bear- 
ing date the 21st day of June, in the 7th year of 
his reign, in the presence of the most part of his 
nobles, his counsellors, judges, and divers other 
grave and sage personages, etc., etc. * * * * 
* * * * 4«- Forasmuch as the imperial 
crown of this realm, by an act made in the 
thirty-fifth year of the reign of King Henry the 
Eighth, our projenitor and great uncle, for lack 
of issue of his body lawfully begot, and foi lack 
of issue of the body of our said late cousin, King 
Edward the Sixth, by the same act limited and 
appointed to remain to the Lady Mary, by the 
name of the Lady Mary, his eldest daughter, 



180 THE LIFE OF 

and to the beirs of her body lawfully begot, and 
for the default of such issue the remainder there- 
of to the Lady Elizabeth, by the name of the 
Lady Elizabeth, his second daughter, and to the 
heirs of her body lawfully begotten, with such 
conditions as should be limited and appointed 
by the said late king of worthy memory, King 
Henry the Eighth, our progenitor and great 
uncle, by his letters patents under the great seal, 
or by his last will in writing, signed with his 
hand. And forasmuch as the said limitation of 
the imperial crown of this realm, being limited 
as is aforesaid, to the said Lady Mary and Lady 
Elizabeth, being illegitimate and not lawfully be- 
gotten, for that the marriage had between the 
said late king, Henry the Eighth, our projeni- 
tor and great uncle, and the Lady Katharine, 
mother to the said Lady Mary ; and also the 
marriage had between the said late king, Henry 
the Eighth, our progenitor and great uncle, and 
the Lady Anne, mother to the said Lady Eliza- 
beth, were clearly and lawfully undone by sen- 
tences of divorces, according to the word of 
God, and the ecclesiastical laws, and which said 
several divorcements have been severally ratified 
and confirmed by authority of Parliament, and 



LADY JANE GREY. 181 

especially in the thirty-third year of the reign 
of King Henry the Eighth, our progenitor and 
great uncle, remaining in force, strength, and 
effect, whereby as well the said Lady Mary, as 
also the said Lady Elizabeth, to all intents and 
purposes are and be thereby disabled to ask, 
claim, or challenge the Said imperial crown, or 
any other of the honors, castles, manors, lord- 
ships, lands, tenements, or other hereditaments, 
as heir or heirs to our said late cousin. King 
Edward the Sixth, or as heir or heirs to any 
other person or persons whosoever, as well for 
the causes before rehearsed, as also for that the 
said Ladys Mary and Elizabeth were unto our 
said late cousin but of the half blood, and there- 
fore by the ancient laws, statutes, and customs of 
this realm, be not inheritable unto our said late 
cousin, although they had been born in lawful 
matrimony, as indeed they were not, as by the 
said sentences of divorce, and the said statute of 
the twenty-eighth year of the reign of our king, 
Henry the Eighth, our said progenitor and great 
uncle, plainly appeareth ; and forasmuch, also, as 
it is to be thought, or at least must be doubted, 
that if the said Lady Mary or Lady Elizabeth 
should hereafter have and enjoy the said impe- 



182 THE LIFE OP 

rial crown of tliis realm, and should happen to 
marry with any stranger out of this realm, that 
the said stranger, having the government and 
imperial crown in his hands, would adhere and 
practise, not only to bring this noble free realm 
into the tyranny and servitude of the Bishop of 
Eome, but also to the laws and customs of his 
or their own native country or countries, to be 
practised and be put in use within this realm, 
rather than the laws, statutes, and customs, here 
of long time used, whereupon the title of inher- 
itance of all and singular the subjects of this 
realm do depend, to the peril of conscience, and 
the utter subversion of the common weal of this 
realm. Whereupon our said late dear cousin, 
weighing and considering with himself what 
ways and means were most convenient to be 
had for the stay of the said succession in the 
said imperial crown, if it should please God to 
call our said late cousin out of this transitory 
life, having no issue of his body, and calling to 
his remembrance that we, and the Lady Katha- 
rine and the Lady Marie, our sisters, being the 
daughters of the Lady Frances, our natural moth- 
er, and then and yet wife to our natural and most 
loving father, Henry, Duke of Suffolk, and the 



LADY JANE GREY. 183 

Lady Margaret, daughter of the Lady Eleanore, 
then deceased, sister to the said Lady Frances, 
and the late wife of our cousin Henry, Earl of 
Cumberland, were very nigh of his grace's 
blood, of the part of his father's side, our said 
progenitor and great uncle, and being naturally 
born here within the realm, and for the very 
good opinion our said late cousin had of our and 
our said sisters and cousin Margaret's good edu- 
cation, did therefore, upon good deliberation and 
advice, herein had and taken, by his said letters 
patents declare, order, assign, limit, and appoint, 
that if it should fortune himself, our said late 
cousin. King Edward the Sixth, to decease, leav- 
ing no issue of his body lawfully begotten, that 
then the said imperial crown of England and Ire- 
land, and the confines of the same, and his title 
to the crown of the realm of France, and all and 
singular honors, castles, prerogatives, privileges, 
preliminaries, authorities, jurisdictions, domin- 
ions, possessions, and hereditaments, to our said 
late cousin. King Edward the Sixth, or to the 
said imperial crown belonging, or in anywise ap- 
pertaining, should, for lack of such issue of his 
body, remain, come, and be unto the eldest son 
of the body of the said Lady Frances, lawfully 



184 THE LIFE OF 

begotten, and so from son to son, as he should be 
of authentic birth, of the body of the said Lady 
Frances lawfully begotten, being born into the 
world in our said cousin's lifetime, and to the 
heirs male of the body of every such son law- 
fully begotten ; and for default of such son born 
into the world in his lifetime, of the body of the 
said Lady Frances, lawfully begotten, and for lack 
of heirs male of every such son lawfully begot- 
ten, that then the said imperial crown, and aJ 
and singular other the premises should remain 
come, and be to us, by the name of the Lad} 
Jane, eldest daughter of the said Lady Frances 
and to the heirs male of our body lawfully be 
gotten, that then the said imperial crown, and 
all other the premises, shall remain, come, and 
be to the said Lady. Katharine, our said second 
sister, and to the heirs male of the body of the 
said Lady Katharine lawfully begotten, with 
divers other remainders, as by the same letters 
patent more plainly at large it may and doth 
appear. Since the making of which letters 
patent, that is to say, on Thursday, which was 
the sixth day of this instant month of July, it 
has pleased God to call to his infinite mercy our 
said most dear and entirely beloved cousin, 



LADY JANE GREY. 185 

Edward the Sixth, whose soul God pardon, 
and forasmuch as he is now deceased, having 
no heirs of his body begotten, and that also 
there remaineth at this present time no heirs . 
lawfully begotten of the body of our said pro- 
genitor and great uncle, King Henry the Eighth ; 
and forasmuch also as the said Lady Frances, 
our said mother, had no issue male begotten of 
her body, and born into the world in the life- 
time of our said cousin, King Edward the Sixth, 
so as the said imperial crown, and other the 
premises to the same belonging, or in anywise 
appertaining, now be and remain to us in our 
actual and royal possession, by authority of the 
said letters patent : We do, therefore, by these 
presents, signify unto all our most loving, faith- 
ful and obedient subjects, that like as we for our 
part shall, by God's grace, show ourselves a most 
gracious and benign sovereign queen and lady to 
all our good subjects, in all their just and lawful 
suits and causes, and to the uttermost of our 
power shall preserve and maintain God's most 
holy word, Christian polity, and the good laws, 
customs, and liberties of these our realms and 
dominions ; so we mistrust not, but they and 
every of them, will again for their parts, at a^\ 



186 THE LIFE OP 

times, aud in all cases, show themselves unto us, 
their natural liege queen and lady, most faithful, 
loving, and obedient subjects, according to their 
bounden duties and allegiances, whereby they 
shall please God, and do the thing that shall 
tend to their own preservation and security ; 
willing and commanding all men of all estates, 
degrees, and conditions, to see our peace and 
accord kept, and to be obedient to our laws, as 
they tender our favor, and will answer for the 
contrary at their extreme peril. 

"In witness whereof we have caused these 
our letters to be made patent. 

" Witness ourself, at our Tower of London, 
this tenth day of July, in the first year of our 
reign. 

"god save the queen." 

This proclamation was read to the inhabitants 
of London, and as we have remarked, excited no 
enthusiasm. It fell coldly upon their ears, for 
they knew every word came direct from the 
ambitious brain of Northumberland. They saw, 
too, that its reasoning was fallacious ; they could 
not resist the conviction that Mary, however 
repugnant in her character and religious princi- 



LADY JANE GREY. 187 

pies to them, was nevertheless the lawful queen 
of the realm. Yet no opposition was made, 
with a single exception, to the assumption of the 
crown bj Lady Jane. The exception was the 
case of a young man apprentice to a vintner, 
who asserted Mary's rights aloud, and as a pun- 
ishment for his offence he was set on the pillory, 
and had both of his ears cut off. 

Queen Jane, though residing in the Tower, 
made preparations for a removal in a few weeks. 
She appointed Sir Ambrose Dudley to be keeper 
of her palace at Westminster, who began to 
make preparations for the queen's change of 
residence. On the 11th of July the council 
wrote to commissioners, then in Flanders to ne- 
gotiate a treaty of peace, the following despatch : 

"After our hearty commendations, ye shall 
learn by this bearer, Mr. Shelley, and by such 
letters as ye shall receive from the queen's high- 
ness, our sovereign lady. Queen Jane, which 
copy of such letters as are hers ye are to send to 
the emperor, which is the cause of this message 
DOW sent to you, and what it is that is now to 
be done by you there ; first, the signification of 
our lord's death ; next, the possession of the 
queen's highness in the crown of this realm; 



188 THE LIFE OP 

thirdly, the placing of you, Sir Phillip Hobbye, 
knight, as ambassador there resident ; fourthly 
and last, the offer for your remaining there to 
proceed in the treaty of peace, if it shall so like 
the emperor. Furthermore, ye shall understand 
that although the Lady Mary hath been neither to 
write us to remain quiet, yet nevertheless we see 
her not so weigh the matter, that if she might 
she would disturb the state of this realm, having 
thereunto as yet no manner apparent of help or 
comfort but only the cognizance of a few lords 
and base people, all other the nobility and gen- 
tlemen remaining in their duties to our sovereign 
lady, Queen Jane. And yet, nevertheless, be- 
cause the conditions of the baser sort of people 
is understood to be unruly if they be not gov- 
erned and kept in order, therefore for the meet- 
ing with all events, the Duke of Northumber- 
land's grace, accompanied with the Lord Mar- 
quis of Northampton, proceedeth with a conve- 
nient power into the parties of Norfolk, to keep 
those countries in stay and obedience ; and "be- 
cause the emperor's ambassadors here remaining 
shall on this matter of the policy not intermed- 
dle, as it is very likely they will and do dispose, 
the Lord Cobham and Sir John Mason repair- 



LADY JANE GREY. 189 

eth to tlie same ambassadors to give them notice 
of the Ladj Mary's proceedings against the 
state of this realm, and to put them in remem- 
brance of the nature of their ofi&ce, which is not 
to meddle in these causes of policy, neither di- 
rectly or indirectly, and so to charge them to 
use themselves as they give no occasion of un- 
kindness to be ministered unto them, whereas 
we would be most sorry for the amity which on 
our part we mean to conserve and maintain. 
And for that grace the ambassadors here shall 
advertise thither what is said to them. Ye shall 
therefore declare to the emperor both the cause 
of this message to his ambassadors, and what 
the very message is, using it in such sort as 
thereby the amity may best be preserved. 

" The 11th of July, 1553. The Council to the 
Com mission ers. " 

The queen's despatch (really prepared by the 
council) was as follows : 

" JANE THE QUEEN. 

"Trusty and well-beloved, — We greet you 
well. It hath so pleased God of his providence, 
by the calling of our most dear cousin of famous 
memory. King Edward the Sixth, out of this 



190 THE LIFE OF 

life, to our very natural sorrow, that we be, both 
by our said cousin's lawful determination in his 
lifetime, with the assent of the nobility and state 
of this our realm, and also as his lawful heir 
B,nd successor in the whole blood royal, pos- 
sessed of this our realm of England and Ireland. 
Wherefore we have presently sent to our good 
brother, the emperor, this present bearer hereof, 
our trusty servant, Mr. Eichard Shelley, with 
letters of recommendation and credence from us, 
thereby signifying unto him as well the sorrow- 
fal death of our said cousin the king, as also our 
succession in the crown of this realm, motioning 
unto our good brother the continuance in such 
amity and league as our said cousin and prede- 
cessor had with him, for which purpose we have 
furthermore signified by our said letters, not 
only our orders that you, Sir Phillip Hobbye, 
shall there remain and rest with our said good 
brother the emperor, as our ambassador resident, 
praying him to give you credit appertaining to 
such an of&ce, but also that for the like zeal and 
desire we have to the weal of Christendom, as 
our said cousin King Edward had, wherein we 
do count to follow his steps, we have given 
order that ye, the whole number of our ambas- 



LADY JANE GREY. 191 

sadors, shall there remain to continue to dwell 
in the former commission which ye had from 
our ancestor the king, if it shall please our said 
good brother, the copy of which our letters we 
send to you herewith, for your more ample 
understanding of our determination, which con- 
sidered and pondered we would ye made the 
most speedy course to our said good brother, 
and in order to execute the matters contained in 
the said letters of your part to be declared — first, 
the signification of the death of our said ancestor 
and cousin the king, whereof as we by nature 
must take great grief, so we doubt not but our 
said good brother will, for friendship and great 
amity, sorrow and condole with us; next, that 
you, Sir Phillip Hobbye, have express order 
there to reside and attend upon our good brother 
as our minister, for the continuance and the en- 
tertainment of the intelligence and firm amity 
heretofore had and concluded betwixt our said 
ancestor and cousin the king and our said good 
brother, the maintenance whereof we, with the 
assent of our nobility and council, do much de- 
sire, and for our pity will not fail but confirm- 
and maintain the same. In third, ye shall show 
to our said good brother that as we do by God'a 



192 THE LIFE OF 

good providence succeed to our said ancestor 
and cousin, King Edward the Sixth, in this 
our crown and dominions, so do we also find 
in our heart and mind the very descent and 
inheritance of his most Christian devotion and 
affection to the common weal of Christendom, 
which moveth us, with the advice of our nobil- 
ity and council, to offer to our said good brother 
the ministry and ofl&ce of you our ambassadors, 
to remain there and proceed in the former com- 
mission for the consolation of some good peace 
betwixt our said good brother and the French 
king, wherein we refer our good purpose and 
meaning to the mind and contentation of our 
said good brother. This done, whatsoever our 
good brother shall answer ye may thereunto 
reply as ye think expedient, tending to the con- 
tinuance of our ancestor's amity, with an addi- 
tion that ye forthwith report unto us. For the 
rest of the proceeding hereof, ye shall under- 
stand by the bearer, to whom we would ye 
should give credit. 

" Given under our signate, at our Tower of 
London, 11th July, 1553." 

The following address by Queen Jane to cer- 



LADY JANE GREY. 193 

tain of her nobility, was prepared by ISTorthuni- 
berland at this time, and the original draft 
still remains in the British Museum. In cer- 
tain places, sentences or parts of sentences are 
lost : — 

"Right trusty and well-beloved councillors — 
We greet you well, and desire the same, that 
whereas it hath pleased Almighty God to call 
to his mercy out of this life, our dearest cousin 
the king, your late sovereign lord. By reason 
whereof, and such ordinances as the said late 
king did establish in his lifetime, for the securi- 
ty and welfare of this realm, we are entered into 
our rightful possession of this kingdom, as by 
the last will of our said dearest cousin, our late 
ancestor, and other several instruments to that 
effect, signed with his own hand, and sealed 
with the great seal of this realm England * * * 
in his own presence, and the nobles of this 
realm for the most part, and all our council 
and judges, with the * * * * here also sub- 
scribed their names, as by the same will and 
testament it may now evidently and doth ap- 
pear; now, therefore, do you understand that 
by the * * * and sufferance of the heavenly 
Lord, and by the assent and consent of the said 
' . .3 



194 THE LIFE OF 

nobles and councillors, and others before signi- 
fied, we do this day make our entry into our 
Tower of London, as rightful queen of this 
realm, and have accordingly set forth our proc- 
lamation to all our loving subjects, giving them 
thereby to understand the same as their- duty 
of allegiance which they now of right owe unto 
us, as most amply shall be shown hereafter, 
nothing doubting, right trusty and well-beloved 
councillors, but that you will endeavor your- 
selves in all things to the uttermost of your 
power, not only to defend for our use, but also 
assist us in our rightful possession of this king- 
dom, and to disturb, repel, and resist the feigned 
and untrue claim of the Lady Mary, bastard 
daughter to our great uncle, Henry the Eighth, 
of famous memory. Wherein as you shall, and 
that what to your truth and duty appertain- 
eth, so shall we grant and show unto you and 
yours accordingly." 

Neither of the preceding papers purporting to 
emanate from the queen, really were prepared 
by Lady Jane, and it is doubtful if she saw 
them. The ostensible head of the kingdom was 
in truth an innocent girl, who was a prisoner of 
the Duke of Northumberland. The duke pro- 



LADY JANE GREY. 195 

fessed to feel thoroughly at his ease in reference 
to the state of the kingdom, but his dispatches 
reveal the truth — that he was alarmed, and ex- 
ceedingly anxious to win confidence from the 
nobility, and countenance from the German em- 
peror. His subsequent conduct fully proved 
that he never had been satisfied with his hopes 
of success, as well that notwithstanding all his 
ambition he was really destitute of courage. At 
p.ve.rv step of the narrative henceforth, we can 
but mourn that it was Lady Jane Grey's terrible 
fate to fall into the power of this man. 

In the meantime Mary and her friends exert- 
ed themselves to the utmost. In Suffolk, Nor- 
folk, and Cambridgeshire, the great mass of the 
people, high-born and low-born, detested the 
Duke of Northumberland, and when Mary 
pledged herself to make no change in the re- 
ligion and laws of the land, they in a body 
came over to her cause. On the 12th of July 
she arrived at Framlingham, and sent to Norwich 
to cause her proclamation there. The council 
had written her, in reply to her letter, that her 
claim to the crown was invalidated by King Ed- 
ward's will, and by the general voice of the 
people. But the council were astonished and 



196 THE LIFE OP 

alarmed when news of tlie disaffection in the 
counties of Norfolk and Suffolk reached them, 
and when they also heard that Mary was sur- 
rounded by the Earls of Bath and Sussex, Sir 
Thomas Wharton, Sir John Mordaunt, Sir Wil- 
liam Drury, Sir John Shelton, and many other 
of the nobility and gentry. Northumberland 
determined upon raising forces immediately to 
put down the insurrection, as he termed it. But 
he knew not what to do, for he was the only 
fit man to head the army, and yet he dared 
not leave London, for fear that his enemies 
would in his absence intrigue against him. He 
concluded to place the Duke of Suffolk at the 
head of this army, but the queen besought him 
with tears, and besought the council, that her 
father might remain with her, and finally deter- 
mined if necessary to use her authority, and not 
suffer him to go. There was no other resource 
left, and Northumberland himself led the army 
from London. It consisted of six thousand 
men, well equipped according to the fashion of 
those times. Before leaving Queen Jane, Nor- 
thumberland made an appeal to those he left at 
the Tower, reminding them of their oaths, and 
telling them that he was willing to put in jeop- 



LADY JANE GREY. 197 

ardj his own life, that her right might be 
maintained. " The queen," he said, " bj your 
and our enticement, is rather of force placed ou 
the throDe, than by her own seeking or re- 
quest." 

Every one present swore to uphold the rights 
of Lady Jane, and he proceeded on his way. 
But as he was passing through the city he could 
not fail to observe the temper of the people, 
and he observed to Lord Wilton ; "In all this 
multitude, my lord, you do not hear one wish 
us prosperity!" It was true, and he might have 
foreseen, and perhaps did foresee, his own fate 
from that hour. 

While Lady Jane was at the Tower, on the 
12th of July, the Marquis of Winchester deliv- 
ered to her the crown jewels, gold and silver, 
and articles for her wardrobe. The following 
were among the things : a " fysshe of gold, 
being, a toothpick, a like pendent having one 
pearl, and three little pearls at it, a dewberry 
of gold, a collet with five pearls, a tablet with a 
white and blue sapphire, eight gaurdes of gold 
and a tassel of Yenice gold, five small agates 
with stars graven upon them, a chain with ja^ 
tinths, table diamonds set in gold, ' etc., etc. 



198 THE LIFE OF 

On the 15th of July the commissioners in 
E^landers wrote to the council as follows : — 

" Pleaseth it your good lordships. The four- 
teenth of this present Don Diego found me, Sii 
Phillip Hobbye, and me, Sir Richard Morysone, 
walking in our host's garden, and at his first 
coming to us entered into a long talk how 
much he was bound to owe his good will and 
service to England, and therefore he could not 
but at one time both sorrow with us for the 
loss of our good old mastei', a prince of such 
virtue and towardness, and also rejoice with us 
that our master which is departed, did, ere he 
went, provide us of a king, in regard we had so 
much cause to rejoice in ; he made his excuse 
that he had come to us the day before, laying the 
stay thereof in De Arras, for, said he, when I 
told him I would come to you, and show me a 
partaker of both your sorrows and gladness, with 
mind to offer to the king's majesty by you, both 
of as much service as could lie in me, and of as 
much as my friends and kinsmen were able to 
do, in case De Arras did think such my office 
would not offend the emperor my master; De 
Arras' advice was that I should for a season 
defer my going unto you, which as I did some- 



LADY JANE GREY. 199 

what against my will, so I and mine were very 
glad that so I did, for he telleth me now I £pay 
come to you and sorrow with you, and rejoice 
with you, and make all the offers that I can to 
the king's majesty, for I shall not only not 
offend him in so doing, but I shall much please 
his majesty therewith. And therefore, saith he, 
do I, and sorrow that you lose so good a king, 
so do I much rejoice that you have so noble and 
toward a prince to succeed him, and I promise 
you, by the words of a gentlemen, I would at 
all times serve his highness myself and as many 
as I shall be able to bring with me, if the em- 
peror did call me to serve him. We said we 
had hitherto received the sorrowful news, but 
the glad tidings were not as yet come unto us 
by letters. We were glad to hear this much, 
and wish we were able to tell him all how 
things went at home. Saith he, I can tell you 
this much. The king's majesty, for discharge 
of his conscience, writ a good piece of his testa- 
ment with his own hand, barring both his sis- 
ters of the crown, and leaving it to the Lady 
Jane, near to the French queen. Whether the 
two daughters be bastards or no, or why it is 
done, we that be strangers have nothing to do 



200 THE LIFE OF 

witli this matter. Ye are bound to obey ana 
serve his majesty, and therefore it is reason we 
take him for your king whom the consent of the 
nobles of your countrie have declared for your 
king, (and saith he) for my part of all others am 
bound to be glad that his majesty is set in this 
ofRce. I was his god-father, and would as wil- 
lingly spend my blood in his service as any 
subject that he hath, etc., etc." 

Two days later the commissioners wrote an- 
other communication to the privy council, de- 
claring that they had had an interview with the 
emperor, and set forth the substance of the 
despatches. 

On Sunday, the 16th of July, a sermon was 
preached in favor of the new reign at St. Paul's 
by Mr. Eogers — a man who, for his boldness^ 
soon afterwards perished at the stake. That 
very day the lord treasurer stole out of the 
Tower to his house in London, to make arrange- 
ments for the whole council going over to the 
cause of Mary. They had until now been in a 
manner prisoners, for they dared not leave the 
Tower while Northumberland was there. The 
news of Mary's advance on London strengthened 
the hopes of her adherents there, and rendered 



LADY JANE GEEY. 201 

gloomy the partizaus of Queen Jane. Fearing 
that Mary might escape from her castle — which 
was situated near the German ocean — by sea to 
the continent, some days before, the govern* 
ment had sent six ships of war down to the Suf- 
folk coast, to intercept any vessels containing 
her ; but these ships, as soon as they arrived at 
Yarmouth, went over to the side of Mary, and at 
once added strength to her position. She had 
now around her an army several thousands 
strong, and on the 16th all the ships at Harwich 
declared in her favor. The news of this alarm- 
ing popularity of Mary's cause could not have 
failed to carry fear to the heart of the council, 
and especially the Duke of Suffolk, who was 
really, in the absence of Northumberland, the 
head of the government. Letters arrived from 
Northumberland, demanding immediate rein- 
forcements, and acknowledging that his army 
was rapidly deserting him. The council was 
now fully determined upon making some suita- 
ble excuse for leaving the Tower, and Lady 
Jane to her fate. Professing to comply with 
the demand of ISTorthumberland for more troops, 
they sent a body of men out of London under 
the charge of the Earls of Pembroke and Arun* 



202 THE LIFE OF 

del, who were, as thej knew, secretly the friends 
of Mary. Suffolk was completely deceived, for 
he prepared the following dispatch to be sent by 
them : — • 

" To our trusty and well-beloved Sir John 
Bridges and Sir Nicholas Poynty, Knights. 

"jane the queen. 

" Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well, 
because we doubt not but this our most lawful 
possession of the crown with the free consent 
of the nobility of oui' realm, and other the states 
of the same, as both plainly known and accepted 
of you, as our most loving subjects, therefore we 
do not reiterate the same, but now most earnest- 
ly will and require, and by authority hereof 
warrant you to assemble, muster, and levy, all 
the power that you can possibly make, either of 
your servants, tenants, of&cers, or friends, as well 
horsemen as footmen, repairing to our right 
trusty and right well-beloved cousins, the Earls 
of Arundel and Pembroke, their tenants, ser- 
vants, and ofl&cers, and with the same to repair, 
with all possible speed, towards Buckingham- 
shire, for the repression and subduing of certain 
tumults and rebellions moved there against our 



LADY JANE GREY. 203 

crown bj certain seditious men. For the repres- 
eion whereof we have given orders to divers 
others our good subjects, and gentlemen of such 
degree as you are, to repair in like manner to 
the same parties. So as we nothing doubt but 
upon the access of such our loving subjects as 
be appointed for that purpose to the place where 
the seditious people yet remaia, the same shall 
either lack heart to abide in their malicious 
purpose, or else receive such punishment and 
execution as they deserve, seeking the destruc- 
tion of their native country, and the subversion 
of all men in their degrees, by rebellion of the 
base multitude, whose rage being stirred, as of 
late years hath been seen, must needs be the 
confusion of the common weal. Wherefore our 
special trust is in your courage, wisdom, and 
fidelity in this matter, to advance yourselves 
both with power and speed in this enterprise, in 
Buch sort, as by ye the nobility and council shall 
also be prescribed unto you. And for the sus- 
tentation of your charge in this behalf, by our 
said commandment, do further give order to your 
satisfaction, as by their letters also shall appear 
unto you. And beside that we assure you of 
our special consideration of this your service to 



204 THE LIFE OF 

US and our crown, as expressly to the prcjer* 
vation of this our realm and commonwealth. 
Given under our signet at the Tower of Lon- 
don, on the 18th day of July, the first year 
of our reign." 

The efforts of Northumberland's party to .sus- 
tain themselves were made in vain. Fox the 
whole English nation regarded the Duke as a 
dangerous and tyrannical man, and also were 
convinced that to Mary the throne properly 
belonged, and now that she had solemnly prom- 
ised to make no change in the religion of the 
country, they were contented that she should 
assume the crown. The privy council was also, 
at this very time, in secret devoted to Mary, 
and almost the only personage of influence left 
at London, who was sincerely devoted to Lady 
Jane Grey, was her own father, the Duke of 
Suffolk. 

Northumberland at Cambridge, though at the 
head of an army, made no stand against the 
enemy, but endeavored to convince the people 
by argument that his daughter-in-law was right- 
fully Queen of England. He asked Dr. Landys, 
a learned and ardent Protestant, to preach in sup* 



LADY JANE GREY. 205 

port of the claims of Lady Jane, and he did so, 
attacking with boldness both Mary's character 
and her title to the throne. In London, Cecil, 
Cranmer, and the rest of the privy councillors, 
persuaded Suffolk that it was necessary to raise 
a large force and put them in their hands, they 
being just ready to declare for Mary, but care- 
fully disguising their real sentiments. 

On the 19th day of July a large portion of 
the council were at Baynard Castle, the seat of 
the- Earl of Pembroke, just out of London, 
They had persuaded the Duke of Suffolk that 
it was necessary for them to leave the Tower, 
but they were no sooner fairly out of his reach, 
than they concerted a plan for instantly revolu- 
tionizing London. Early in the morning, news 
reached London from the lord-lieutenant of 
Essex, that the Earl of Oxford had deserted to 
the side of Mary, and the following despatch to 
the lord-lieutenant was sent from the Tower : — 

" After our right hearty commendations to 
your lordships, although the matter contained 
in your letters of the Earl of Oxford departing 
to the Lady Mary be grievous unto us for 
divers respects, yet we must needs give your 
lordship our hearty thanks for your ready ad- 



206 THE LIFE OF 

vertisement thereof. Requiring your lordship 
nevertheless, like a nobleman, to remain in that 
promise and steadfastness to our sovereign lady, 
Queen Jane's service, as ye shall find us ready 
and firm with all our force to the same. Which 
neither with honor, nor with safety, nor yet 
with duty, we may now forsake. 

" From the Tower of London, the 19th of 
July, 1553.'' 

During the forenoon, while a portion of the 
council were in the Tower with Lady Jane, 
another part were assembled in Baynard Castle. 
The Earl of Arundel at once moved a resolu- 
tion of allegiance to Queen Mary ; Pembroke 
seconded it, and placing his hand upon his 
sword, boldly declared that he was ready to 
dispute the matter with any man who dared 
oppose the authority of Lady Mary. The whole 
of the party were unanimous in their support 
of Mary, and news of the transaction flew to the 
streets of London. The lord mayor and. alder- 
men were sent for, and Mary was proclaimed in 
the streets. The people rejoiced, for they were 
delivered from the rule of the detested Northum- 
berland. Undoubtedly, however, there were 
many who grew sorrowful when they thought 



LADY -JANE GREY. 207 

of the gentle Lady Jane, who had scarcely an 
enemy in England. The people loved and 
pitied her, while they rejoiced in the downfall 
of her father-in-law. The Earl of Arundel and 
Lord Paget set off" instantly to Mary with the 
important news of the revolution at London. 
The happiness of the Londoners seemed half- 
frantic; caps were thrown into the air; the Earl 
of Pembroke "threwe awaye his cape full of 
angelles ;" money was thrown out of the win- 
dows to the crowd by the partisans of Mary ; 
bonfires raged, and bells pealed for joy. 

The commotion in the streets soon was known 
to the inhabitants of the Tower. The Duke of 
Suffolk was so frightened as to act with the 
most lamentable lack of manliness. As soon 
as he heard that Mary was proclaimed in the 
streets, he came out of the Tower, commanding 
his partisans to throw aside their weapons, for 
he was but one man, and himself upon Tower 
Hill proclaimed the Lady Mary to be the law- 
ful Queen of England ! The duke was very 
much dejected, and went to Lady Jane's apart- 
ments and told her that she must lay aside her 
royalty and all its ceremonies, and advised her 
to bear her sorrowful fortunes with patience. 



208 THE LIFE OF 

In her reply we see the sweet humility which 
ever dwelt in her heart. She said that her 
fortitude was greater than he had imagined, and 
that this summons was more welcome to her 
than that which raised her to the throne. " In 
obedience to you, my lord," said she, " and to 
my mother, I acted violence on myself, and have 
been guilty of a grievous offence ; but the pres- 
ent is my own act, and I willingly resign to 
correct another's fault, if so great a fault can be 
corrected by my resignation and sincere ac- 
knowledgment." 

As soon as Lady Jane had replied thus, she 
retired to her private apartment, and in solitude 
pondered on her dangerous situation. Yet, as 
all the chroniclers of her times agree in declar- 
ing, she manifested not the slightest symptom 
of fear, but wore the same sweet, calm, half-sor« 
rowful countenance, which ever was the bright- 
est charm of her personal appearance. 

As soon as Suffolk had deposed Lady Jane, 
he sent a dispatch to Northumberland, requir- 
ing him at once to disband his army, and submit 
to Queen Mary. But that cowardly though am- 
bitious man, as we shall shortly see, needed no 
such command to render him willing to give 



LADY JANE GREY. 209 

the crown to Mary. The council decided that 
Lady Jane should give up the title of queen — 
which she most willingly and joyously had done 
several hours before — and all the privileges and 
ceremonials attached to the position which she 
had innocently usurped. It is said, to illustrate 
the suddenness of the revolution in London, that 
on the morning of the momentous 19th, Lady 
Jane stood god-mother to a child in baptism, 
and was attended with all the loyal honors due 
to a queen, but in the afternoon she was not 
only deposed but virtually a prisoner. At last 
the order came from Queen Mary for her arrest 
on a charge of high treason, and she was placed 
in close confinement. The only thing whicl* 
seems to have touched her heart, was the cruei 
separation from her husband, Lord Guildford 
Dudley. They were both young, handsome, 
and undoubtedly loved each other, and their 
separation at such a time, and under such 
gloomy prospects, must have been heart-rend- 
ing. Dudley was not exactly to her that he 
was on her marriage-day, for then his heart was 
pure, and full of truest love for Lady Jane. 
Since that day ambition had once got the bet- 
ter of his love, and though he saw his wife 
U 



210 LADY JANE GREr. " 

weeping and fainting in her anguish, and re- 
fusing to accept the crown, yet he pressed the 
bitter cup upon her, and would take no denial. 
Yet she loved him, undoubtedly, notwithstand- 
ing his cruelty. But what must have been his 
remorse, after this misfortune came, when he 
thought of his own agency in the unfortunate 
usurpation I 



CHAPTER X. 

DCKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND. SUFFOLK SET AT LIBERTY. TRIAL OF 

NORTHUMBERLAND. — HIS EXECUTION. LADY JANE GREY — BEE 

TREATMENT. HER ANGELIC CONDUCT. QUEEN MAEy's RELIGIOUS 

PERSECUTIONS. HER CORONATION. 

When the news of the revolution in London 
reached Northumberland, at Cambridge, he was 
struck with terror. Seeing that the people in 
the streets were enthusiastic in their joy, he con- 
ceived the insane idea that bj hurrahing with 
them, and joining them in their demonstrations, 
he might save his own life. A man of his high 
position, who had usurped the crown, should 
either have fought to the last against his ene- 
mies, or have calmly awaited his dreadful fate 
like a man, with dignity and with courage ; and 
the world would at least have looked upon him 
without contempt. But the affrighted man ran 
into the market-place, and shouted for Queen 
Mar}', tossed his cap high in the air and wept, 



212 THE LIFE OF 

he pretended, for joy ! But the tears were those 
of fright, of anguish, notwithstanding his pre- 
tences. Dr. Sandys, the clergyman who only 
the Sunday before, had preached boldly against 
Mary, stood by his side. He was a man of real 
courage and true piety, ready alike for success 
or for the scaffold. The miserable duke said to 
him : 

" Queen Mary is a merciful woman, and doubt- 
less all will receive the benefit of her pardon." 

"Flatter not yourself," replied Dr. Sandys, 
" for were the queen ever so much inclined to 
pardon you, those who rule her will destroy 
you, whoever else is spared." 

Sir John Gates, who had been a tool of Nor- 
thumberland's, arrested him now, but in the 
course of a few hours he was set at liberty. 
When the Earl of Arundel entered the city at 
the head of a body of troops, he at once arrest- 
ed Northumberland, Gates, and Dr. Sandys, and 
committed them to the Tower. Soon after, the 
Duke and Duchess of Suffolk, the Marquis of 
Northampton, the Earl of Huntingdon, and 
others were arrested. 

On the 3d of August, Queen Mary arrived at 
Wanstead, her seat, and disbanded her army, 



LADY JANE GREY. 213 

with the exception of a body of liorse. The 
Duchess of Suffolk had been liberated after a 
few hours' imprisonment, and when she met the 
queen she fell upon her knees, and begged 
mercy for her husband, the Duke of Suffolk, 
saying that he was ill, and would die if shut 
up in the Tower. The queen was pleased to 
hear her prayer, and liberated the duke. Thus 
the couple who had literally forced Lady Jane 
into acceptance of the crown were free, while 
the innocent victim of their wicked ambition 
lay in her dismal place of imprisonment. The 
duchess had not a word to say for her gentle 
daughter, no pardon to ask, and she did not 
hesitate to take part in the public ceremonies of 
the occasion ! Years afterwards, when Mary 
slaughtered the saints with an almost diabolical 
perseverance, the Duchess of Suffolk still re- 
mained her friend and professed admirer I 
" In the afternoon of the 3d of August, Queen 
Mary entered the city. She rode upon a white 
horse, and was dressed in violet velvet, and 
looked somewhat fair, though near forty years 
of age. Elizabeth rode next after her sister, the 
queen. All London was in the streets, and 
when the queen arrived at the Tower, she re- 



214 THE LIFE OF 

leased many prisoners, wlio had long been con- 
fined there. The majority of them were Cathol- 
ics, however. It soon became evident that Mary 
did not intend to fulfil her first promise not to 
alter the established religious laws of the coun- 
try. A Protestant came up to London with a 
petition from his fellow-believers, and was put 
in the pillory!- This was the prelude to those 
terrible acts which will ever be associated with 
the name of Queen Mary. 

About this time letters were received from 
the commissioners in Flanders, revealing the 
singular fact that the despatches which were 
received from them by Northumberland some 
time previous, were devoid of truth, and intend- 
ed to deceive, for from the first the emperor 
had expressed himself utterly opposed to Lady 
Jane's usurpation of the throne 1 

On the 18th of August, the Duke of Northum- 
berland had his trial. He acted towards his 
judges with great humility. It is not a little 
singular that among his judges were men who 
had acted with him as councillors to Lady Jane 
Grey 1 He said to the judges that he spoke not 
anything in defence of himself, yet he wished 
the opinion of the court on two points : First, 



LADY JANE GREY, 215 

whether a man, acting by authority of the 
prince and council, and by warrant of the great 
seal of England, might properly be charged of 
treason. 

Secondly, whether any of the persons who 
acted with him, and of course were equally 
guilty, might be his judges, or pass upon his 
trial at his death ! 

The reply of the court was that the seal he 
used was not the seal of the lawful queen, but 
the seal of an usurper, and secondly, that any 
persons who were not attainted of treason, could 
with the pleasure of the queen, sit upon the tial 
The duke saw that words would avail him noth- 
ing, and confessed his crimes and begged their 
pardon. Throughout the trial he conducted 
himself in the basest manner possible. There 
is one exception ; for he assured the court what 
ever might be his own deserts, that Lady Jane 
not only did not aspire to the crown, but was hy 
enticement and force made to accept of it. This 
was the only generous sentiment which fell 
from the lips of the duke during his trial. For 
himself, he craved the death which was usually 
accorded to noblemen, and beseeched that his 
children might be treated favorably. He also 



216 THE LIFE OP 

wished to confer with some eminent divine upon 
religious matters. He hoped still to save his 
life by renouncing his Protestantism. 

The rejoicing of the people was great when 
they heard of the sentence of condemnation 
against the Duke of Northumberland. They 
felt that at last justice had overtaken him for 
his despotic acts. When he was carried back 
from the court to his prison in the Tower, a 
woman, probably alluding to the execution of 
Somerset by Northumberland, saluted him with 
the words, " Behold the blood which thou didst 
cause to be unjustly shed does now apparently 
begin to revenge itself on thee ! " 

On the 19th of August, Northumberland re- 
ceived news that it was the intention of the 
government to proceed at once to his execution, 
and he immediately wrote the following letter 
to the Earl of Arundel : 

" Honorable lord, and in this my distress my 
especial refuge, most woful was the news I re- 
ceived this evening by Mr. Lieutenant, that I must 
prepare myself against to-morrow to receive the 
deadly stroke. Alas, my good lord, is my crime 
so heinous as no redemption but my blood can 



LADY JANE GREY. 217 

•wash away the spots thereof? An old proverb 
there is, and that most true, that a living dog is 
better than a dead lion. Oh! that it would 
please her good grace to give me life, yea the 
life of a dog, if I might but live and kiss her 
feet, and spend both life and all in her honora- 
ble service, as I have the best part already under 
her worthy and most glorious father. Oh ! that 
her mercy were such as she would consider 
how little profit my dead and dismembered 
body can bring her, but how great and glorious 
an honor it will be in all posterities when the 
report shall be, that so gracious and mighty a 
queen had granted life to so miserable and 
penitent an object. Your honorable usage and 
promise to me since these my troubles, have 
made me bold to challenge this kindness at your 
hands. Pardon me. if I have done amiss therein, 
and spare not, I pray, your bended knees for 
me in this distress. The God of heaven it may 
be will requite one day on you or yours. And 
if my life be lengthened by your mediation and 
my good lord chancellors, (to whom I have also 
sent my blurred letters,) I will ever owe it to be 
spent at your honorable feet. Oh ! good my lord, 

remember how sweet life is, and how bitter the 
J 



218 THE LIFE OF 

contrary. Spare not your speech and pains, for 
God, I hope, hath not shut out all hopes of com- 
fort from me in that gracious, princely, and wo- 
man-like heart ; but that as the doleful news of 
death hath wounded to death both my soul and 
body, so a comfortable news of life shall be as a 
new resurrection to my woful heart. But if no 
remedy can be found, either by imprisonment, 
confiscation, banishment, and the like, I can say 
no more, but God grant me the patience to 
endure, and the heart to forgive the whole world. 
" Once your fellow and loving companion, 
but now worthy of no name but wretchedness 
and misery. J. D." 

This letter shows very clearly the real char- 
acter of Northumberland. Although a man of 
iron nerve and most reckless disposition, yet in 
view of death his courage all vanishes, and he 
cries in his agony like a child, for help. How 
strangely does the conduct of Lady Jane con- 
trast with his own at this crisis ! She, though 
young and gentle, has not a word of complaint, 
not a single thrill of fear ; but the old, weather* 
beaten soldier begs most shamefully lor " yea, 
the life of a dog ! " 



LADY JANE GREY. 219 

But the base supplication was fruitless, for on 
the 22d day of August, the lieutenant of the 
Tower delivered to the sheriffs of London the 
Duke of Northumberland, Sir John Gates, and 
Sir Thomas Palmer, for execution. When the 
duke and Sir John Gates met, the former said: 

" Sir John, God have mercy upon us, for this 
day shall end both our lives, and I pray you 
forgive me whatsoever I have offended, and I 
forgive you with all my heart, although you and 
your council were a great occasion thereof." 

Sir John replied : 

" Well, my lord, I forgive you all, as I would 
be forgiven, and yet you and your authority 
were the original cause of it altogether, but the 
Lord pardon you, and I pray you forgive me." 

The duke laid aside his gown, and leaning 
upon the railing,, made an address to the multi- 
tude of people congregated to witness his execu- 
tion. The day before he heard mass in his 
prison, and boldly avowed himself a Catholic, 
thus deserting his old creed. He confessed that 
he was worthy of death ; that he had helped in 
the false religion, and for this God had punished 
the nation by the death of Henry YIIL, Ed- 
ward VI. ; with rebellion, and with sweating 



220 THE LIFE OF 

sickness. He was thankful that now he was a 
Christian, though for sixteen years he had not 
been one. He guarded his hearers against cove- 
tousness, which was the cause of his fate, and 
said, " I beseech you all to bear me witness that 
I die in the true Catholic faith." He then re- 
peated several Latin psalms, and afterwards said : 
" Into thy hands, Lord, I commend my spir- 
it," and bending toward the block, said that he 
deserved a thousand deaths ; when his neck 
lay upon it, it was instantly severed. Gates 
and Palmer were immediately after executed. 
Thus perished the man who was the cause of 
so much intense suffering to innocent persons, 
through his inordinate ambition. 

But it is time that we return to Lady Jane 
Grey and her unfortunate husband. They were 
now state-prisoners, and confined in separate 
apartments. Beauchamp's Tower was the gen- 
eral place of confinement for state-prisoners, but 
Lady Jane was imprisoned in one of the war- 
den's houses, inside of the prison walls, kept by 
a "Master Partridges." It is probable that 
her comfort was better secured in the warden's 
house than it could have been in the usual 
prison apartments. She was allowed to retain 



LADY JAKE GREY. 221 

two of her female attendants, but the day after 
she became a prisoner, the Marquis of Winches- 
ter, the lord treasurer, required of her to deliver 
up the crown jewels, or those which were in her 
possession. The sympathy of the nation for 
Lady Jane was unquestionable, unmistakable. 
Northumberland was hated ; but for his lovely 
and innocent victim there was nothing but pity, 
save in the hearts of a few heartless courtiers, 
or bigoted and fierce Catholics. The nation 
loved as its own existence the principle of her- 
editary right, and never could quietly consent 
to see Mary defrauded of her throne, yet it 
blamed not the pious and gentle-hearted Lady 
Jane Grey for her agency in the unfortunate 
usurpation. A feeling of sympathy for her, and 
even for her husband in a lesser degree, filled 
the hearts of the people, and it was generally 
hoped that no punishment would be inflicted 
upon them. The Duke and Duchess of Suffolk, 
though a hundred times more guilty than Lady 
Jane, had been set free, why should not the 
victim of their advice and commands also re- 
ceive her liberty ! 

The conduct of Lady Jane upon her impris- 
onment will, as long as the history of England 



222 THE LIFE OF 

and the Reformation is remembered, place ber 
name upon the scroll of heroes and martyrs who 
perished bravely and gloriously. History fur- 
nishes no instance where a girl of sixteen con- 
ducts herself through trial, imprisonment, and 
death with greater courage, mildness, and resig- 
nation than were exhibited by Lady Jane Grey. 

She was young, and loved life and liberty ; 
she was full of the warmest affections ; yet she 
parted from the fair husband in whose bosom 
she had lain, without a murmur, and laid off the 
habiliments of a queen for a prison-life, without 
a sigh 1 Her conduct during this change was 
truly remarkable. Fuller says that "she made 
misery itself amiable by her pious and patient 
behavior ; adversity, her night clothes, bearing 
her, as well as her day-dressing, by reason of 
her pious disposition." 

Burnet says, "she was so humble, so gentle, 
and pious, that all people both admired and 
loved her. That she had a mind wonderfully 
raised above the world, and at the age wherein 
others are but imbibing the notions of philoso- 
phy, she had attained to the practice of the 
highest precepts of it : for she was neither lifted 
up with the hope of a crown, nor cast down 



LADY JANE GREY. 225 

when slie saw her palace made afterwards her 
prison; but carried herself with an equal temper 
of mind in the great inequalities of fortune that 
so suddenly exalted and depressed her." 

Through all her long imprisonment this an- 
gelic creature never uttered a complaint of her 
suffering, and seemed to be wholly concerned 
for her father and husband, who had forced her 
to act the part which she did, and which must 
be expiated by the sacrifice of her life. When 
London was alive with enthusiasm upon the ad- 
vent of Mary, Lady Jane was alone in her apart- 
ment, and listened to the booming of the cannon 
and the shouts of the populace in silence. It 
is not strange that her pious heart soon came 
to the conclusion that this world of bitter dis- 
appointment was nothing in comparison to that 
glorious world towards which her meek spirit 
was hastening. Queen Mary entered the Tow- 
er and liberated many prisoners there, but she 
came not to " Master Partridge's " house, where 
was the young Lady Jane, her cousin. 

Before the coronation of Queen Mary, she 
issued an order to the lord treasurer which com- 
menced as follows : 



224 the life op 

"by the queen. 

" Mary the Queen. 

"Trusty and well beloved, we greet you 
well. And where upon delivery of certain of 
our jewels and stuff to your hands by the Lady 
Jane Grey, the 20th of July last, which she had 
before received of you the 12th of the same 
month, it appeareth that the parcels hereafter 
mentioned were wanting, and by occasion there- 
of cannot be found again ; forasmuch as we 
certainly understood that by your diligence all 
the rest that she had was recovered, being at 
the same time in like danger, and upon trust we 
have ye will not let to use the like travel to 
recover those parcels to our use as soon as ye 
can," etc., etc. There follows a list of the lost 
articles — lost probably in the agitation and con- 
fusion attendant upon the suddenness of the 
change of Lady Jane's condition. It seems that 
every penny in the possession of Lady Jane or 
her husband, Guildford Dudley, was taken from 
them, as if in part to make up to loss of certain 
articles of state. 

At the time of Northumberland's death the 
imperial ambassadors urged Queen Mary to 
bring Lady Jane to trial ; but she seems not to 



LADY JANE GREY. 225 

have been willing, either because lier heart 
would not allow of it, or she feared to outrage 
the feelings of the people too far. It is said 
that she declared that she had no heart to put to 
death her unfortunate cousin, whom she regard- 
ed as the victim of Northumberland. About 
this time Lady Jane addressed a narrative of 
her term of royalt}'', to Queen Mary, in which 
she confessed her fault, but declared that when 
Northumberland and her father and mother 
came to her, and attempted to force the crown 
upon her, that she fell to the ground fainting, as 
one dead, and remained their helpless victim. 
The cause of this address to the queen was not 
to intercede for her own life or that of Dudley, 
but to show her majesty the innocence of her- 
self in the transaction. Lady Jane was pious 
and good, and loved a good reputation better 
than life, and wished Queen Mary to know that 
she had not acted with wilful wickedness in the 
usurpation, but had been forced to act the part 
allotted to her. Whether the true statement of 
the case had any effect upon the queen we know 
not, but the conduct of her officers towards 
Lady Jane was harsh in the extreme. The 
charge that some of the crown jewels were lost 
J 15 



226 THE LIFE OF 

was merely a pretence, and under it Lady Jane 
and Dudley were literally robbed of their pri- 
vate jewels, and all the money in their posses- 
sion. There is a meanness in such an act almost 
without a parallel in history. For a proud 
Queen of England to seize upon the pocket- 
money of an unfortunate woman, who was niece 
to a king, certainly was the lowest depths of 
niggardliness. 

The Sunday after the execution of Northum- 
berland, the old Catholic service was chanted 
in St. Paul's, and on every hand it soon became 
apparent that Mary would soon commence a 
career of persecution. Throughout the month 
of August, sharp struggles took place between 
the Catholics and Protestants, for the possession 
of the churches, and the government seemed to 
be undecided whether boldly to proclaim Cathol- 
icism in opposition to the principles of the Eefor- 
mation. All doubts were soon dispersed, howev- 
er, by the course pursued by the ministry. Mary 
was desirous of placing the Pope at the head of 
the church, but even her Catholic bishop, Gardi- 
ner, opposed this scheme. Her answer to him 
is a memorable one. 

" Women, I have read in Scripture, are 



LADY JANE GREY. 227 

forbidden to speak in churcli. Is it then fit* 
ting that your church should have a dumb 
head?" 

On the 15th of September, Archbishop Cran- 
mer, Latimer, and others, were arrested and 
committed to prison. All doubt was at an end 
now, — Queen Mary was determined to distin- 
guish herself as a heretic-burner; a religious 
persecutor. 

During the last week in September, the queen 
was busily occupied in preparing for her ap- 
proaching coronation. She had no money left 
in her treasury, and was obliged to borrow 
£20,000 of the citizens of London for the occa- 
sion. The day appointed was the first of Octo- 
ber. Three days before the coronation, the queen 
set out from Whitehall by barge for the Tower, 
attended by the lord mayor and different honor- 
able companies. At the Tower, she made fif- 
teen knights of the bath, and remaining over 
night, the next day she went in grand procession 
through the streets of London. 

On the coronation morning, the queen and 
her numerous attendants took their barges, and 
proceeded to the stairs leading to Parliament- 
chamber. The whole city was in the streets, 



228 THE LIFE OF 

notwithstanding the day before had been one of 
the utmost pomp and pageantry. The Parha- 
ment-charaber was splendidly hung with tapes- 
try, and blue cloth was laid in the street, from 
Parliament-hall to Westminster Abbey. At 
about ten o'clock the queen was conducted to 
the robing-chamber, where she waited till eleven, 
when the procession commenced to the Abbey. 
Bishop Gardiner performed the part usually al- 
lotted to the Archbishop of Canterbury, pro- 
nouncing the coronation-oaths. Mary was at- 
tired in royal robes of velvet, a mantle with a 
train, a surcoat, a riband of Venice gold, a man- 
tle-lace of gold and silk, with buttons and tassels 
of the same material, having the imperial crown 
on her head, the sceptre in her right hand, an 
orb in her left, and a pair of gold-crimson seba- 
tons on her feet. Mary's personal appearance at 
this time was not striking. Nearly forty years 
old, low in stature, very thin and pale in her face, 
which was not indicative of either intellect or 
good nature, she made little impression through 
her beauty, though she was by no means re- 
pulsive in her appearance. After the principal 
ceremonies were over, a general pardon of pris- 
oners was read, but it contained so many excep- 



LADY JANE GRE-i. 229 

tions, that to many the day was a day of sorrow 
rather than a day of rejoicing. 

When the queen left Westminster Abbey it 
was in a robe of purple velvet, an open surcoat 
of the same material, with miniver and pow- 
dered ermine, a mantle-lace of silk and gold, a 
riband of gold, and a crown upon her head. 
The banquet followed, and among the entertain- 
ments of the occasion were dramatic and comic 
representations. The comedian, Heywood, pre- 
sented himself at court, from banishment. The 
queen asked him : 

" What wind has blown you hither? " 

"Two special ones," said Heywood, "one of 
them to see your majesty." 

" We thank you for that," replied Mary, " but 
I pray for what purpose was the other? " 

"That your majesty might see me/" replied 
the comedian. 

His wit was successful, and the queen often 
saw him, and amused herself with his comic 
representations. 

During all this pageantry Lady Jane Grey 
remained in her prison, separated from her hus- 
band and all her friends; yet she was happy, 



230 ■ LADY JANE GREY. 

for slie«^ad the peace " which passeth all un- 
derstanding." 

In a few days Mary's first parliament was 
opened. Its first act was to repeal all former 
acts of Henry VIII.'s reign in reference to 
Katharine of Arragon and her daughter, Queen 
Mary. Its next was to pass a bill of attainder 
upon Lady Jane Grey and her husband. 



CHAPTER XI. 

VKIAL OF LADT JANE GREY AND LORD GUILDFORD AT GUILDHALL.— 

THEIE CONDUCT. SENTENCED TO DEATH. — SYMPATHY FOE LADT 

JANE. RELIGIOUS MATTERS. DR. SANDYS. PROJECT OF MAEY^S 

MARRIAGE WITH PHILIP. OPPOSITION OF PEOPLE AND PARLIA- 
MENT. INSURRECTION OF SUFFOLK, CAREW, AND WYATT. WYATT 

IN LONDON. HIS DOWNFALL. 

The trial of Ladj Jane Grej and her hus- 
band, Lord Guildford Dudley, on a charge of 
high treason, took place at the Guildhall on the 
13th of November. Archbishop Cranmer, Lord 
Ambrose and Sir Henry Dudley, were at this 
time also charged with treason. The time ol 
Lady Jane's trial was in the saddest month of 
the English year — a month usually crowded full 
of sombre skies and melancholy fogs. On the 
morning of the memorable 13th of ISTovember, a 
morning, probably, like almost all November 
days in London, overcast with the solemnest 
clouds of autumn, Lady Jane and Lord Guild- 
ford were led from the Tower, in which so long 



232 THE LIFE OF 

they had been incarcerated, to Guildhall, to 
take their trial,. They were surrounded by a 
guard of four hundred halberdiers, and great 
noise and confusion were attendant upon the 
procession to the place of trial, yet Lady Jane 
bore herself with courage and calmness. From 
the day on which she was imprisoned to this 
day she had not seen her husband, but this 
morning they met. "We can easily imagine 
what a sad meeting it must have been, and how 
eagerly each scanned the face of the other to 
discover with what patience and Christian meek- 
ness the imprisonment had been borne. When 
the unfortunate pair entered the court-room, 
there was present a great crowd of witnesses, 
and the ceremonies which characterized the trial 
were exceedingly impressive. But Lady Jane 
was, throughout the whole scene, perfectly calm 
and seemingly happy. Her judges were men 
well calculated to intimidate a young and tender 
woman, but she was not agitated in the least. 
Her cheeks were blooming all the while, and 
her voice trembled not, nor in any manner did 
she show fear or agitation. To the charge 
against her Lady Jane pleaded guilty, though 
she was most innocently so, and guiltless of any 



LADY JANE GREY. 233 

intention to rob another of her rights. The 
sentence was pronounced bj Lord Chief Justice 
Morgan, and a most terrible one it was. She 
was sentenced to be burnt alive on Tower Hill 
or beheaded, at the queen's pleasure. When 
this dreadful sentence was . pronounced, a groan 
burst forth from almost every person present, 
and when Lady Jane set out on her return to 
the Tower, great crowds of people followed 
her, crying aloud, and bewailing her fate. The 
sympathy for her was exceedingly great, and 
she was obliged to offer consolation to those 
who followed her. Turning to them she said, 
with angelic sweetness, 

" Oh ! faithful companions of my sorrows, 
why do you thus afflict me v/ith your plaints ? 
Are we not born into life to suffer adversity, 
and even disgrace, if it be necessary ? When 
has the time been that the innocent were not 
exposed to violence and oppression?" 

We must remember that all this sympathy 
was shown for Lady Jane when a universal 
opinion obtained that she was to be pardoned 
by Queen Mary. How much more powerful it 
would have been in view of her death, we can 
readily imagine. The queen, notwithstanding 



284 THE LIFE OF 

her hardness of heart, was touched with pity 
for Lady Jane, when she beheld her meek and 
gentle conduct. There is not the slightest rea- 
son to doubt her intention at this time to pardon 
Lady Jane and her husband. Lord Guildford 
Dudley, She ordered that the former be al- 
lowed the liberty of walking in the queen's 
garden at the Tower, and on the hill. Lord 
Guildford also received a gentler treatment than 
before, having the liberties of the " ports " 
where he was lodged. On the 21st of Decem- 
ber, the Marquis of Northampton and Sir Hen- 
ry Gates were both pardoned and released from 
prison, and immediately Lady Jane Grey and 
Lord Dudley experienced a change in their 
treatment, which must have led them to believe 
that soon the queen would set them at liberty. 
Alas ! that the mad and foolish acts of others, 
who were already free from the miseries of a 
prison life, should bear such a sad sway over 
their fortunes ! 

Queen Mary showed an intense desire to win 
Lady Jane over to the Catholic faith, and 
learned papist divines were sent to argue with 
her, and endeavor to show her the wickedness 
of the doctrines of the Eeformation. We have 



LADY JANE GREY. 235 

no doubt but Mary really longed to see Lady 
Jane a good Catholic, and from the best of 
motives. She was cruel and persecuting, not 
because she loved blood, but because she was 
ignorantly, bigotedly, madly devoted to the Ca- 
tholic religion. But it was utterly useless to 
attempt to shake Lady Jane in her belief. As 
an old writer remarks, " all their labors were 
bootless, for she had art to confound their art, 
wisdom to withstand their flatteries, resolution 
above their menaces, and such a true knowledge 
of life, that death was to her no other than a 
most familiar acquaintance." 

A convocation of the clergy previous to this 
had declared the Book of Common Prayer to 
be an abomination, and also demanded a super- 
vision of the Catechism, and recommended im- 
mediate persecution against all of the clergy who 
did not put away their wives, and adopt tho 
Catholic article of belief in reference to the real 
presence. The whole influence of the govern- 
ment was in favor of the Catholic religion, and 
in those days, when the scaffold and the stake 
were commonly used to terrify the people into 
compliance with the wishes of the court, the 
influence of the government was exceedingly 



236 THE LIFE OF 

powerful. The truth was, that many of those 
who, under the reign of Edward VL, had called 
themselves Protestants, were so merely because 
it was for their personal interest to be so, and 
the moment that a Catholic occupied the throne, 
they retreated back at once into the bosom of 
the Romish church. A majority of the clergy 
became Catholic, and some of the bishops ; but 
Cranmer and Latimer were sent to the Tower, 
and soon after the Archbishop of York for mar- 
rying, and Ridley for preaching at St. Paul's 
in favor of Lady Jane's usurpation, Poynet for 
marriage, and several other of the bishops for 
similar offences, were sentenced to imprison- 
ment. Dr. Sandys, who so boldly, at Cambridge, 
preached against the title of Mary to the throne, 
though at first imprisoned, was afterwards liber- 
ated by the queen. One of the ladies of her 
bedchamber interceded for the bold and honest 
preacher, and one day when Gardiner came to 
the privy chamber the queen said : 

" Winchester, what think you about Dr. San- 
dys ? Is he not sufficiently punished ? " 

" As it pleases your majesty," answered the 
bishop. 

" Then, truly," replied Queen Mary, " we 



LADY J^NE GKEY. 237 

would have him set at liberty," She signed 
immediately the warrant for his releasement, 
and he was set free. The friends of Qaeen 
Mary attempt, from such acts as these, to res- 
cue her name from the opprobrium which has 
covered it for centuries, and we think they 
certainly show that she was not wholly lost 
to tender emotions. But it is impossible to 
forget the many terrible acts for which Queen 
Mary ever must be held responsible by just 
men, and which shroud her memory in a pall 
of darkness. Undoubtedly her ministers were 
constantly pressing her on in her career of per- 
secution, but a true Queen of England should 
have been superior to her cabinet, and have 
guided them, instead of being contented to be 
led hy them. 

About this time certain of the inhabitants of 
the county of Suffolk reminded the queen that 
she solemnly promised them before her corona- 
tion that she would not change the reformed 
religion as it was established under her brother, 
Edward YI. But the queen did not like thus 
to be reminded of her broken promises, and one 
man, who was bolder than his companions in 
complaining, was put in the pillory. Judge 



238 THE LIFE OP 

Hales, a Protestant, who had refused to coun- 
tenance Lady Jane Grey's usurpation, simply 
because of his strict honesty of character, was 
thrust into a loathsome dungeon, where he soon 
grew crazy and endeavored to make way with 
his life. At last he was liberated, but his health 
and mind were ruined. 

Mary now determined upon marriage, to make 
sure of a Catholic succession. All her life she 
had been trying to marry, and now there was an 
eligible opportunity to wed the son of the Em- 
peror Charles, to whom (the father) she had 
been thirty years before engaged. It is said 
that Mary really loved Edward Courtenay, Earl 
of Devon, whom she had liberated from prison, 
a handsome and exceedingly accomplished gen- 
tleman. But unfortunately he was suspected of 
sympathizing with the Protestants, and regarded 
the Princess Elizabeth with more affection than 
Queen Mary. The queen also had some thoughts 
of wedding the celebrated Cardinal Pole, who 
had never taken priest's orders. The main 
reason for dismissing this project, was the ad- 
vanced age of the cardinal, he being now fifty- 
three years old. 

The Emperor Charles sent over his ambassa- 



LADY JANE GREY. 239 

dors for the purpose of arranging a marriage 
between his son Philip and the English Queen. 
They had constant access to her, and she, with- 
out even asking the advice of her council, made 
a solemn engagement of herself to Philip. 

For a short time the engagement was kept a 
secret, but when it came out, the whole country 
was filled with discontent. The English people 
feared that with a Spanish prince for the hus- 
band of their queen, England would sink into a 
state of vassalage to Spain. Many Catholics 
opposed the marriage, and the entire Protestant 
body were bitterly against it. They boldly de- 
clared that Mary's sole object was " to continue 
Popery where it was, and to bring it in where it 
was not." The speaker and twenty members 
of Parliament petitioned her majesty that she 
would not marry a stranger or a foreigner. The 
queen thought that Gardiner, her favorite bish- 
op, originated this movement, and said she 
would prove a match for his cunning. That 
very evening she sent for the Spanish ambassa- 
dor, and leading him into her private oratory, 
Bhe knelt before the altar, and after she had 
repeated the hymn Veni Creator, she called 
upon God to witness that while she lived she 



240 THE LIFE OP 

would never marry any man but Philip of 
Spain. 

In December, Parliament was dissolved, to 
get rid of a troublesome enemy. In January, 
Count Egmont arrived from Spain, to conclude 
the marriage-treaty. There were at once tokens 
of revolt, for the people of Kent, where the 
count landed, rose in large masses and endeav- 
ored to obtain his person. He arrived at Lon- 
don safely, and the marriage-treaty was arranged. 
The terms were as follows : Philip was to have 
the honor of the title of King of England, but the 
government was to rest solely with the queen, 
he merely aiding her in her duties. No Span- 
iard was to enjoy any of the offices of the king- 
dom ; no innovations were to be made in the laws 
and customs of England ; the queen was never to 
be carried abroad without her free consent, nor 
any of her children, if she had any, without the 
consent of the nobility, Philip, in case Mary sur- 
vived him, was to settle upon her a jointure of 
^60,000 a year ; the male issue of the marriage 
was to inherit Burgundy and the Low Countries, 
as well as England ; and in case Don Carlos, Phil- 
ip's son by his first marriage, were to die and 
leave no issue, then their issue, whether male or 



LADY JANE GREY. 241 

female, were to inherit Spain, Sicily, ai-d Milan. 
The treaty was concluded, but notwithstanding 
the concessions made by the Spanish prince, the 
English people were dissatisfied. In less than 
a week Queen Mary and her court were alarmed 
by the intelligence that Sir Peter Carew was up 
in arms in Devonshire, to resist the advent of 
Philip of Spain, and that already he had taken 
possession of the city and castle of Exeter. 
News shortly followed to the effect that the 
Duke of Suffolk, with his brothers. Lord John 
and Lord Leonard Grey, had organized a rebel- 
lion in the mid-counties, for the restoration of 
the innocent Lady Jane Grrey, who seems to 
have been the victim of any ambitious and 
reckless man in the kingdom. But the most 
formidable insurrection was that headed by Sir 
Thomas Wyatt. He was only twenty-three 
years old, a Catholic, son to an illustrious poet, 
full of enthusiasm, and was roused to a high 
pitch of excitement in reference to the Spanish 
marriage. Thus there were three distinct in- 
surrections in the kingdom, though they were 
one in reference to one point — the queen's mar 
riage. Sir Peter Carew aimed at placing Eliza- 
beth and the Earl of Devonshire on the throne ; 
^ 16 



242 THE LIFE OF 

Wyatt only wished to prevent tlie foregin mar- 
riage; and the Greys looked for the restoration 
of Lady Jane Grey to the throne. The last per- 
sonages were the maddest of all. The Duke of 
Suffolk had once been pardoned for treason ; he 
was perfectly well aware that there was a good 
prospect that his daughter would soon be re- 
leavsed from her confinement ; he also knew 
that, in case of his success, Lady Jane would 
never accept of the throne, unless by force she 
were compelled to do so ; we can therefore 
account for his conduct only upon the ground 
that he lacked the qualities of mind which men 
generally possess. A more reckless, foolish, 
mad, cruel course of conduct he could not have 
pursued. He passed through Leicestershire, pro- 
claiming Lady Jane Grey in every town through 
which he journeyed, and, weak man, seemed to 
sincerely believe that the nation which only a 
few months before had utterly refused to sup- 
port his cause, would now rally unitedly around 
him ! 

The Earl of Huntingdon, at the head of an 
army, soon conquered the Grey party, they 
flying for their lives into distant towns. The 
duke and his brothers were, however, shortly 



LADY JANE GREY. 243 

afterwards arrested, and imprisoned in the Tow- 
er. Sir Peter Carew was also soon put to flight, 
he absconding to France. 

Wjatt alone remained in the field. He made 
a stand at the head of 15,000 men. Tlie queen 
sent the Duke of Norfolk with a body of men 
against him, at Rochester. There five hundred 
soldiers, under the duke, deserted to the side of 
Wyatt, and the queen's artillery also fell into 
the hands of the insurgents. The Duke of 
Norfolk fled, and three-fourths of his troops 
went over to Wyatt's side. When the news 
arrived at court of this defeat, all London was 
in uproar and confusion. If Wyatt had forced 
a march upon the capitol, he might, perhaps, 
have won a victory over the queen, for she was 
almost defenceless ; but he was three days in ar- 
riving at Greenwich. The queen rode into Lon- 
don, to encourage the citizens by her presence, 
and the lord mayor received her at the Guild- 
hall. She there made a speech to the people, 
full of mettle and true courage. At the conclu- 
sion the populace vociferated loudly, " God save 
Queen Mary and the prince of Spain ! " From 
Guildhall the queen proceedei to Westminster, 
where she held a council, to devise means for 



244 THE LIFE OF 

defence. An armed watcli was set in "White- 
hall, But at two in the morning the palace was 
alarmed by news brought by a deserter that 
Wyatt would be at Hyde Park Corner in two 
hours ! The palace was filled with lamentations 
and cries of fear : hurried arrangements for de- 
fence were made ; the people barricaded the 
streets ; and the queen's chamber windows were 
well guarded, as well as all her apartments. 
Every woman at court was alarmed, with the 
exception of Queen Mary, who was calm and 
fearless. Bishop Gardiner tried to persuade her 
to take a boat and retreat from the city, but she 
answered : 

'' I will set no example of cowardice ! " 
At four in the morning the drums began to 
beat to arms, and the queen's forces were so 
disposed as best to defend Whitehall or the 
approaches to it. Wyatt's men already were in 
Kent street, where the pepple gave them good 
cheer. They were commanded to refrain from 
pillage, but could not be restrained from sack- 
ing the residence of Bishop Gardiner. His books 
were cut in pieces, so that, as an old writer says, 
" men might have gone up to their knees in 
leaves of books, cut out and thrown under foot." 



LADY JANE GREY. 245 

The morning v/as a chill, wintry, gloomy one, 
for it was the 7th of February. It was nine 
o'clock before Wyatt began fairly to enter the 
city. He divided his forces into three parts. 

The queen's forces were under the leadership 
of Clinton and Pembroke, and quietly at their 
posts, awaited the attack from the insurgents. 
Thousands of the people were gathered to wit- 
ness the battle, or more properly, petty series of 
skirmishes. It had been promised Wyatt that 
Ludgate should be opened for him by the peo- 
ple of that section of the city, and he hastened 
there with a small force. At the same time two 
of his leaders — Knevet and Cobham — attacked 
Whitehall and St. James'. St. James' was well 
defended by Sir Henry Jermingham, but White- 
hall, where the queen was, was in great danger. 
The guards, commanded by Sir John Gage, 
gave way before the insurgents. At the time 
the queen stood in a gallery of the palace, and 
witnessed the conflict. The defeated soldiers se- 
creted themselves in some of the houses around 
the palace, and the porter shut the palace gates, 
so that friends and foes alike were shut out. 
The soldiers belonging to the queen's standard 
desirefl that the gates might be opened to them, 



246 THE LIFE OF 

and Mary, with excellent courage, ordered that 
they be immediately opened, and the guards 
marched in before her. She spoke to them a 
few words of encouragement, and commanded 
them not to leave the spot. 

Wyatt now fought his way down the Strand 
towards Ludgate. This street, now the busiest 
thoroughfare in London, was filled with troops, 
under Courtenay, Earl of Devonshire. The mo- 
ment Wyatt appeared, he fled, some suppose 
from fear, but there is no doubt but that he 
was a secret ally of Wyatt. The insurgent 
leader then demanded the warden of Ludgate 
to surrender. He supposed the warden was a 
friend, but such was not the case. The com- 
mander, Lord Howard, appeared and answered 
to the summons : 

" Avaunt, traitor ! — you enter not here ! " 

Wyatt now was obliged to fight his way back 
to his main army. In the mean time Courtenay 
came in hot haste to the queen, saying, " The 
battle is broke — all is lost ! " Mary's spirit was 
roused, and she replied : 

" Such is the fond opinion of those who dare 
not go near enough to see the truth of the trial. 
We will go ourself to the battle immediately, 



LADY JANE GREY. 2-i7 

and abide the upshot of our rightful quarrel, or 
die with the brave men fighting for us." 

She then prepared herself for the street. At 
that moment the palace was assaulted in the 
rear by a body of men under Cobham. A band 
of gentlemen-at-arms defended the palace with 
great courage, in the rear, and other men fought 
well in front with battle-axes. Cries were con- 
stantly heard throughout the palace, that all 
was lost, and the queen was beseeched to make 
an attempt to escape in a barge down the 
Thames. But she would not, but was cheer- 
ful, and endeavored to impart courage to those 
around her. She asked : 

" Where is Lord Pembroke? " 

The answer was : 

" He is in the midst of the battle." 

"Well, then," said she, "all that dare not 
fight may fall to prayers, and I warrant we shall 
hear better news anon. God will not deceive 
me, in whom my chief trust is." 

Still there was the -wildest confusion in the 
palace, and few hearts there were calm. Shrieks 
were uttered in every room, cheeks were white 
with fear, but Queen Mary privately left the 
palace, to cheer the soldiers. She saw that her 



248 THE LIFE OF 

fate would be decided in a few moments ; that 
she would soon meet with an ignominious end, 
or at least a terrible disgrace, or she would tri- 
umph over her enemies, and stand the proudest 
queen of the world ! She stood between two 
of her soldiers, within shot of the enemy, and 
saw the valiant Pembroke make his final charge 
which decided the battle. Wyatt's forces fled 
in confusion, and such was the excitement and 
terror of every one, that friends were mistaken 
for foes, and the insurgents were only known 
by their dress, which had been muddied in 
coming hastily up to London. 

Sir Thomas Wyatt sat down upon a stall in 
Fleet Street, dispirited and fatigued, and in a 
short time gave himself up quietly a prisoner, 
and he was carried in triumph to court. 

Thus ended the three insurrections, the last one 
of which came so near being successful, that the 
court was striken with terror. Alas ! the conse- 
quence was that the innocent Lady Jane Grey, 
who had rested unconscious of the battles out- 
side her prison walls, must lay down her life. 
Her father had not only ensured his own down- 
fall, but that of his daughter. Mary might have 
rested content with his blood, had there been 



LADY JANE GREY. 249 

no insurrection but the feeble one of whicli he 
was the head ; but Wyatt's frightful approach 
to success so alarmed her, that ehe was fully 
ready to sacrifice whoever, in the opinion of 
her council, was an enemy to the crown. 



CHAPTER XII. 

RESULT OF THE INSURRECTION. THE APPROACHING FATE OF LADT 

JANE GREY. MART SIGNS LADY JANE's DEATH-WARRANT. SHE 

PREPARES FOR DEATH. — RELIGIOUS DISPUTE WITH FECKENHAM. — • 

LETTER TO HER FATHER. LETTER TO HER SISTER KATHARINE. 

HER PRAYER. HER LAST HOURS. DEATH OF LORD GUILDFORD. — • 

HER OWN TRIUMPHANT END. 

The rebellion, the details of which we have 
just contemplated, was, as we have remarked, 
the immediate cause of Lady Jane Grey's death. 
Queen Mary was at once beset by her courtiers 
and councillors, who persuaded her to believe 
that the death of Lady Jane was necessary to 
the security of the crown. Alarmed as she had 
been by the insurrections, she needed but little 
argument to convince her that her innocent rela- 
tion must be sacrificed. It is a most singular 
fact, that the men who were the most urgent in 
their desire for Lady Jane's execution, were the 
very persons who had forced the crown upon 
her, but who by base recantation now stood 



LADY JANE GRET. 251 

high at Marj's court. The Earl of Pembroke 
and the Marqais of Westminster were these 
men. Thej had, months before, urged with 
the utmost eloquence Lady Jane to accept the 
crown ; had, when she wept and fainted at the 
thought of usurpation, actually pressed the bit- 
ter cup to her lips, and now, with a cruelty and 
wickedness scarcely surpassed in history com- 
passed her death, urged Queen Mary to execute 
her at once ! 

The Duke of Suffolk, Lady Jane's father, was 
now, of course, a traitor, and sure of death. His 
conduct was characterized by the utmost reck- 
lessness, weakness, and madness. Queen Mary 
had, with singular good-nature, pardoned him 
for his former offence against her, pardoned him 
after an imprisonment of only a few days, and 
with a miserable grace now came his mad efforts 
to raise a rebellion against his benefactor. The 
most sad result of his conduct was the effect 
which it had upon the fortunes of Lady Jane 
Grey, He alone should have borne the penalties 
for his misconduct, but in fact the heaviest blow 
fell upon Lady Jane Grey, who was made re- 
sponsible for her father's conduct. The very 
next day after the fray with Wyatt, the queen 



252 THE LIFE OF 

came to Temple Bar, and upon the spot still 
damp with blood, signed the death-warrant of 
Ladj Jane Grey and Lord Guildford Dudley. 
Her excuse was, that as long as a competitor to 
the throne existed there would be rebellions, and 
the safety of the kingdom demanded the death 
of Lady Jane. The warrant commanded the 
execution of the unfortunate pair upon the ninth 
day of February — it now being the seventh. 
The queen evidently was frightened for her 
safety, and not possessing a tender heart, con 
sented to the death of her lovely cousin without 
manifesting much feeling. Excuse the act as his- 
torians may, it was a frightful one, and it will for- 
ever stamp the character of Queen Mary as vin- 
dictive, cruel, and bloody. She knew perfectly 
well the true history of Lady Jane's usurpation 
of the crown — knew of her repugnance at ac- 
cepting it, of her innocence, her youth, and her 
gentle piety — must have known that under no 
circumstances could she ever again be persuaded 
to accept the crown, and yet, though she was 
her relative, yet Mary consigned her, young, 
beautiful, and pious as she was, to the scaffold ! 
Had the queen possessed a woman's heart, she 
never would have signed the death-warrant of 



LADY JANE GREY. 253 

Lady Jane Grey. The truth is, her heart was 
cold, and her affections were withered by re- 
peated disappointments, and she felt but little 
sympathy for an enemy, in however distressing 
a condition. 

Only two days were allowed to Lady Jane to 
prepare for her execution, but so full of piety 
was her heart, that when Feckenham, a Catholic 
priest, came to announce to her her fate, she 
declared that she was ready and willing to die ! 
Dr. Feckenham was a bigoted, though a very 
sincere, and we believe a pious Catholic. He 
attempted to reason with her upon religious 
matters, but Lady Jane told him her time was 
too short for controversy. He at once flew to 
the queen, and told her that the time was too 
short for the preparation of Lady Jane for death, 
and that there could be no hope of winning her 
over to the true faith so suddenly. The queen 
therefore respited the execution for three days. 
Feckenham went immediately to the prison 
where Lady Jane was, and with his face glow- 
ing with pleasure, informed her of the respite. 
Lady Jane smiled sadly upon him, and replied: 

" You have mistaken my meaning ; I wish 
not for delay of sentence, but for quiet from 



254 THE LIFE OF 

polemic disputation." The priest seemed sur- 
prised, but she went on to make the exquisite- 
ly beautiful remark: 

"I am prepared to receive patiently my death, 
in any manner it may please the queen to ap- 
point. True it is, my flesh shudders, as is nat- 
ural to frail mortality, but my spirit will spring 
rejoicingly into eternal light, where I hope the 
mercy of God will receive it ! " 

From this meek and beautiful reply, we may 
judge of the state of Lady Jane's mind. She 
"was calm, quiet, and fully prepared to die. At 
times her spirit seems to have been joyous, at 
others, burdened with a sweet melancholy, but 
at no time she looked forward to her fate with 
horror or bitter regret. Had she indulged in 
paroxysms of grief, her conduct would not have 
surprised the world, for she was very young and 
frail, but her sublime courage won the sympa- 
thy of all hearts. 

Queen Mary was enraged at her calm reply 
to Feckenham, and determined, if possible, to 
force the truth upon her — to persecute her in 
her few last hours, by wearisome religious dis- 
putes. She sent Feckenham again to her, and 
also sent se^ eral able Catholic divines, to discuss 



LADY JANE GREY. 255 

with her the truths of the Catholic belief. Feck 
enham had little doubt but with the fear of 
death before her eyes, he should have an easy 
victory over his friend, Lady Jane, and begged 
of her to appoint an hour for the discussion of 
matters, which he insisted upon so deeply affect- 
ed her eternal welfare. She beseeched of him, 
in reply, if he really had any compassion for 
her, to leave her to herself, to commune in sol- 
emn silence with her Maker, before whose throne 
she hoped soon to appear. To this gentle crea- 
ture, whose death was certain to occur in a few 
hours, the prospect of a polemic discussion with 
a wily, though undoubtedly pious priest, must 
have been painful. She needed her few last 
hours for prayer and quiet contemplation, and 
it would be strange if, in sight of the scaffold, a 
young girl were to prove a match for a calm 
and learned priest, in disputation. But Feck- 
enham was bent upon a display of his powers, 
and Lady Jane consented to the discussion. To 
make the matter worse, Feckenham invited in a 
number of the clergy and others to witness the 
dispute. Among the witnesses were the noble 
and learned, who came to see a professed dis- 
putant vanquish a girl in religious argument.. 



256 THE LIFE OP 

That scene would make a remarkable subject 
for an artist. It was within the walls of the 
bloody Tower, between a sombre, learned, big- 
oted priest on the one side, and a fair, bloom- 
ing, lovely girl on the other ; and a crowd of 
witnesses were gathered around — clergymen, no- 
bles, and learned men ! What a striking picture 
of the power of truth, however feeble the instru 
ment by which it is conveyed ! 

Feckenham commenced as follows : 

Feckenham. — Madam, I lament your heavy 
case, and yet I doubt not but that you bear 
out this heavy sorrow of yours with a constant 
and patient mind. 

Lady Jane Orey. — You are welcome unto me, 
sir, if your coming be to give Christian exhorta- 
tion. And as for my heavy case, I thank God, 
I do so little lament it, that rather I account the 
same for a more manifest declaration of God's 
favor towards me, than ever he showed me at 
any time before. And therefore there is no cause 
why either you or others, which bear me no 
good will, should lament or be grieved with this 
my case, being a thing so profitable for my 
soul's health. 

F. — I am here come to you at this present 



LADY JANE GREY. 257 

time to instruct you in the true doctrine of the 
right faith : although I have so great confidence 
in you, that I shall have, I trust, little need to 
travel with you much therein. 

Ja7\je. — Forsooth, I heartily thank the queen's 
highness, which is not unmindful of her humble 
subject ; and I hope, likewise, that you no less 
will do your duty therein, both truly and faith- 
fally, according to that you were sent for. 

F, — What is then required of a Christian 
man? 

Jane. — That he should believe in Grod the 
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, three per- 
sons and one God. 

F. — What, is there nothing else to be required 
or looked for in a Christian, but to believe in 
him? 

Jane. — Yes, we must love him with all our 
heart, and all our soul, and with all our mind, 
and our neighbor as ourself. 

F. — Why, then, faith neither justifieth, nor 
Baveth. 

Jane. — Yes, verily, faith, as St. Paul saith, 
only justifieth. 

i<:— Why, St. Paul saith. If I have all faith 
without love, it is nothing. 
17 



258 THE LIFE OF 

Jane. — True it is ; for how can I love him 
whom I trust not? Or how can I trust him 
whom I love not? Faith and love go both 
together, and yet love is comprehended in 
faith. 

F. — How shall we love our neighbor ? 

Jane. — To love our neighbor, is to feed the 
hungry, to cloth the naked, and give drink to 
the thirsty, and to do to him as we would do to 
ourselves. 

i^^.— Why, then it is necessary unto salvation, 
to do good works also, and it is not sufficient 
only to believe. 

Jane, — I deny that, and I afl&rm that faith 
only saveth ; but it is meet for a Christian, in 
token that he followeth his master Christ, to do 
good works, yet may we not say that they profit 
to our salvation. For when we have done all, 
yet we are unprofitable servants, and faith only 
in Christ's blood saveth us. 

F. — How many sacraments are there ? 

Jane. — Two : the one the sacrament of bap- 
tism, and the other the sacrament of the Lord's 
supper. 

F, — No, there are seven. 

Jane. — By what scripture find you that ? 



LADY JANE GREY. 259 

F. — Well, we will talk of that hereafter. But 
what is signifled by your two sacraments ? 

Jane. — By the sacrament of baptism I am 
washed with water, and regenerated b}'' the Spir 
it, and tha.t washing is a token to me that I am 
the child of God. The sacrament of the Lord's 
supper offered unto me, is a sure seal and testi- 
mony that I am, by the blood of Christ, which 
he shed for me on the cross, made partaker of 
the everlasting kingdom. 

F. — Why, what do you receive in that sacra- 
ment ? Do you not receive the very body and 
blood of Christ ? 

Jane. — No, surely, I do not so believe. I 
think that at the supper I neither receive flesh 
nor blood, but bread and wine ; which bread, 
when it is broken, and the wine, when it is 
drank, putteth me in remembrance how that for 
my sins the body of Christ was broken, and his 
blood shed on the cross, and with that bread 
and wine, I receive the benefits that come by 
the breaking of his body and the shedding of 
his blood for our sins, on the cross. 

F. — Why, doth not Christ speak these words : 
'i^ake, eat ; this is my body ? Eequire you any 
plainer words ? Doth he not say it is his body ? 



60 THE LIFE OF 

Jane. — I grant he saith so ; and so lie saith, I 
am the vine, I am the door ; but he is never the 
more the door nor the vine. Doth not St. Paul 
say, He calleth things that are not, as though 
they were ? God forbid that I should say, that 
I eat the very natural body and blood of Christ : 
for then, either I should pluck away my re- 
demption, or else there were two bodies, or 
two Christs. One body was tormented on the 
cross, and if they did eat another body, then 
had he two bodies ; or, if his body were eaten, 
then it was not broken upon the cross ; or, if it 
were broken upon the cross, it was not eaten of 
his disciples. 

F. — Why? Is it not as possible that Christ, 
by his power, could make his body both to be 
eaten and broken, as to be born of a woman 
without seed of man, and to walk upon the sea, 
having a body, and other such like miracles as 
he wrought by his power only ? 

Jane. — Yes, verily, if God would have done 
at his supper any miracles, he might have done 
Bo: but I say, that when he minded no work 
nor miracles, but only to break his body, and 
shed his blood on the cross for our sins. But 
I pray you to answer me this one question* 



LADY JANE GREY. 261 

Where was Christ, when he said, Take, eat ; this 
is my body ? Was he not at the table when he 
said so? He was at that time alive, and suffered 
not till the next day. What took he but bread ? 
what brake he but bread ? and what gave he but 
bread ? Look, what he took he brake ; and 
look, what he brake he gave; and look, what 
he gave, they did eat ; and yet all this while he 
himself was alive, and at supper before his disci- 
ples ; or else they were deceived. 

F. — You ground your faith upon such authors 
as say and unsay both in a breath, and not upon 
the church, to whom you ought to give credit. 

Jane. — No, I ground my faith on God's word, 
and not upon the church ; for if the church be 
a good church, the faith of the church must be 
tried by God's word, and not God's word by the 
church, nor yet my faith. Shall I believe the 
church because of antiquity? or shall I give 
credit to the church that taketh away from me 
the half part of the Lord's supper, and will not 
let any man receive it in both kinds? which 
things, if they deny to us, then deny they to us 
a part of our salvation. And I say that it is an 
evil church, and not the spouse of Christ, but 
the spouse of the devil, that altereth the Lord's 



262 THE LIFE OF 

supper, and both taketh from it and addeth to 
it. To that church (say I) God will add plagues, 
and from that church will he take their part out 
of the book of life. Do they learn that of St. 
Paul, when he ministered to the Corinthians in 
both kinds ? Shall I believe this church ? God 
forbid. 

F. — That was done for a good intent of the 
church, to avoid an heresy that sprang up 
from it. 

Jane. — Why? shall the church alter God's 
will and ordinance for good intent ? How did 
King Saul ? The Lord God defend. 

The conversation proceeded in like manner, 
but to no purpose. When Feckenham took his 
leave he said : 

F. — ^I am sorry for you ; for I am sure that 
we two shall never more meet. 

Jane. — True it is, that we shall never meet, 
except God turn your heart. For I am assured 
unless you repent and turn to God, you are in 
an evil case : and I pray God, in the bowels of 
his mercy, to send you his Holy Spirit : for he 
hath given you his great gift of utterance, if it 
pleased him also to open the eyes of your heart. 

Throughout the whole discussion Lady Jane 



LADY JANE GREY. 263 

conducted herself with the utmost calmness and 
meekness ; indeed her witnesses were astonished 
at her deportment, as well as by her vigor of 
mind and language. She has left somewhere 
among her books, the following lines in refer- 
ence to this discussion : 

" Mr. Feckenham gave me a long, tedious, yet 
eloquent reply, using many strong and logical 
persuasions to compel me to have leaned to their 
church ; but my faith hath armed my resolution 
to withstand any assault that words could then 
use against me. Of many other articles of re- 
ligion we reasoned ; but those formerly rehearsed 
were the chiefest and most effectual. 

"Jane Dudley." 

The day had now arrived which at first had 
been designated as the time for the execution of 
Lady Jane and her husband. There had been 
a respite granted, but Lady Jane refused to ac- 
cept it ; but despite her refusal, the council post- 
poned her execution until the 12th of February. 
On the 10th, the wretched Duke of Suffolk was 
brought to the Tower a prisoner, but it is sup- 
posed that his daughter. Lady Jane, knew no- 
thing of his arrest, for on the evening previous 



264 THE LIFE OF 

she addressed to him a celebrated letter, wLicb 
follows. The Duke was thus brought to become 
a witness of his daughter's dreadful fate; and 
unless his heart was turned to stone, it must 
have been filled with pain and remorse at the 
sight of that fair, young girl, offered up upon 
the scaffold as a sacrifice, to expiate his own 
blunders or ambitious acts. For his sake 
alone, or the sake of his friends, she had con- 
sented to act the part she did, and now she was 
receiving the penalty. It is, however, improper 
to say that she consented to the usurpation, for 
she never acquiesced in the plans of Northum- 
berland and her father. She was literally ^/orcec? 
to accept the crown, and would have been par- 
doned for the treason had her father not a 
second time transgressed the laws of the nation, 
and attempted to rally a few uneasy men in the 
provinces around her name, — she all the time 
the unoffending and innocent inmate of a prison, 
— and thus ensure her destruction ! But at last 
the Duke of Suffolk was in prison, from which 
he never was to depart, but to walk up the steps 
of a scaffold. Here in his dungeon his heart 
could not have tasted the peace which diffused 
a radiance over the countenance of his daughter, 



LADY JANE GREY. 265 

like the aureola of glory around the brow of an 
angel I How sadly must her letter have come 
to him — how full it must have been of reproof— 
and yet how tender and kind it is I The fol- 
lowing is a copy : 

"letter from lady jane to her father. 

" Father,— 

" Although it hath pleased God to hasten 
my death by you, by whom my life should 
rather have been lengthened, yet can I so pa- 
tiently take it, as yield mor^ hearty thanks for 
shortening my woful days, than if the whole 
world had been given unto my possession, with 
life lengthened at my own will. And albeit I 
am well assured of your impatient griefs, re- 
doubled manifold ways, both in bewailing your 
own woe, and especially, as I hear, my unfortu- 
nate state ; yet my dear father,- if I may without 
offence rejoice in my own mishaps, meseems in 
this I may account myself blessed, that washing 
my hands in the innocency of my fact, my guilt- 
less blood may cry before the Lord, mercy to 
the innocent. And yet though I must needs 
acknowledge, that being constrained, and as you 
wot well enough, continually assayed, in taking 



266 THE LIFE OF 

upoir me I seemed to consent, and therein griev* 
ouslj offended the queen and her laws ; yet do 
I assuredly trust, that this my offence towards 
God is so much the less, in that being in so royal 
estate as I was, my enforced honor blended 
never with mine innocent heart : and thus, good 
father, I have opened unto you the state where- 
in I at present stand. Whose death at hand, 
although to you, perhaps, it may seem right 
woful, to me there is nothing that can be more 
welcome, than from this vale of misery to aspire 
to that heavenly throne of all joy and pleasure, 
with Christ our Saviour. In whose steadfast 
faith, if it may be lawful for the daughter so to 
write to the father, the Lord that hitherto hath 
strengthened you, so continue you, that at the 
last we may meet in heaven with the Father, 
the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Jane." 

It is not known when this letter was received 
by the Duke of Suffolk, but probably the day 
before the execution of his meek daughter. Nor 
is any mention made by any historian of those 
times of which we write, of the effect it had 
upon his mind. 

The lieutenant of the Tower at this time was 



LADY JANE GREY, 267 

Sir John Gage, and having many opportunities 
of seeing Lady Jane and her husband, he could 
not help loving them, and desired not only to 
testify his respect and affection for them, but 
wished also to secure some token of their esteem 
for him, which he could keep in their memory. 
He therefore presented them a small book, 
bound in vellum, consisting of the devotions 
of an English Protestant of noble blood, who 
was wrongfully cast into prison. By some the 
book was supposed to have been written by the 
Duke of Somerset, and that the last five prayers 
in the volume were added by him on his second 
imprisonment, which ended in his execution. 
Upon this book, on the margin. Lady Jane 
wrote two notes, — one to her father, and one to 
Sir John Grage, — and Lord Guildford wrote one 
to his father-in-law, which was as follows : 

" Your loving and obedient son wisheth unto 
your grace long life in this world, with as much 
joy and comfort as ever I wished to myself; 
and in the world to come joy everlasting. 

*' Your most humble son, till death, 

" G. Dudley." 



268 THE LIFE OF 

A few pages further on, upon the margin oi 
a leaf, is the following note from Lady Jane 
Grey to her father : 

" The Lord comfort your grace, and that 
in his word, wherein all creatures only are to be 
comforted. And though it hath pleased Grod to 
take away two of your children, yet think not, 
I most humbly beseech your grace, that you 
have lost them ; but trust that we, by leaving 
this mortal life, have now an immortal life. 
And I, for my part, as I have honored your 
grace in this life, will pray for you in another 
life. Your always humble daughter, 

"Jane Dudley." 

To Sir John Gage, Lady Jane addressed the 
following note, on the margin of the same book : 

" Forasmuch as you have desired so simple a 
woman to write in so worthy a book, good 
master lieutenant, therefore I shall, as a friend, 
desire you, and as a Christian require you, to 
call upon God to incline your heart to his laws, 
to quicken you in his way, and not to take the 
words of truth utterly out of your mouth. Live 



LADY JANE GREY. 269 

Still to die, that by death you may purcliase 
eternal life ; and remember the end of Methusa- 
leh, who, as we read in the Scriptures, was the 
longest liver that was of a man, died at the last. 
For as the preacher saith, there is a time to be 
born and a time to die, and the day of death is 
better than the day of our birth. 

" Yours, as the Lord knoweth, as a friend, 

"Jane Dudley." 

The following day — the 11th of February — 
Lady Jane was constantly absorbed in medita- 
tion and prayer. In the evening she read the 
New Testament in Greek. After reading for a 
while she closed the book, then taking it up 
again and looking at the end of it, she saw some 
blank leaves, and taking pen and ink, wrote an 
exhortation to her sister Katharine. When she 
had finished it, she delivered the book to Mis- 
tress Ellen, one of her attendants, asking her to 
bear it to her sister, as a last token of her love 
and remembrance. 

It is as follows : 

" Good Sister Katharine, — 

"I have here sent you a book, which, al- 
though it be not outwardly trimmed with gold, 



Zl\) THE LIFE OF 

yet inwardly is more worth than precious stones. 
It is the book, dear sister, of the law of the 
Lord. It is his testament and last will, which 
he bequeathed unto us wretches ; which shall 
lead you to the path of eternal joy ; and if you, 
with a good mind to read it, and with an earn- 
est mind do purpose to follow it, it shall bring 
you to an immortal and everlasting life. It shall 
teach you to live, and learn you to die. It shall 
win you more than you should have gained by 
the possession of your woful father's lands. For 
as, if God had prospered him, you should have 
inherited his lands ; so if you apply diligently 
this book, seeking to direct your life after it, you 
shall be an inheritor of such riches, as neither 
the covetous shall withdraw from you, neither 
they shall steal, neither yet the moths cor- 
rupt. Desire with David, good sister, to under- 
stand the law of the Lord God. Live still to 
die, that you, by death, may purchase eternal 
life. And trust not that the tenderness of your 
age shall lengthen your life ; for as soon, if God 
calls, goeth the young as the old ; and labor 
always to learn to die. Defy the world, deny 
the devil, despise the flesh, and delight yourself 
only in the Lord. Be penitent for your sins, 



LADY J"ANE GREY. 271 

and yet despair not : be strong in faitli, and yet 
presume not; and desire with St. Paul, to be 
dissolved, and to be with Christ, with whom, 
even in death,, there is life. Be like the good 
servant, and even at midnight waking, lest when 
death cometh and stealeth upon you as a thief 
in the night, you be with the evil servant, found 
sleeping : and lest for lack of oil, you be found 
like the five foolish women, and like him that 
had not on the wedding garment, and then ye 
be cast out from the marriage. Rejoice in 
Christ as I do. Follow the steps of your mas- 
ter, Christ, and take up your cross : lay your 
sins on his back, and always embrace him. 
And as touching my death, rejoice as I do, 
good sister, that I shall be delivered of this 
corruption, and put on incorruption. For I am 
assured that I shall, for losing a mortal life, win 
an immortal life, the which I pray God grant 
you, and send you his grace to live in his fear, 
and to die in the true Christian faith, from the 
which, in God's name I exhort you, that you 
never swerve, neither for hope of life, nor for 
fear of death. For if you will deny his truth to 
lengthen your life, God will deny you, and 
shorten your days. And if you cleave unto 



272 THE LIFE OF 

him, he will prolong your days to your comfort 
and his glory. To which glory Grod bring me 
now, and you hereafter, when it pleaseth him to 
call you. Fare you well, good sister, and put 
your only trust in Grod, who only must help 
you. Jane." 

This striking letter was written the night be- 
fore she was executed. The solemn shades of 
evening enveloped her apartment in the Tower, 
and she well knew that the morning light would 
come only to guide her feet to the scaffold I As 
a token of the state of her mind in the immedi- 
ate prospect of death, this letter is exceedingly 
interesting. The Testament in which it was 
written still is preserved in England. 

It would seem as if Mary would have allowed 
her cousin to remain in quiet the last night 
before her death ; but no, the moment Lady 
Jane had finished her beautiful exhortation to 
her sister, two bishops and two learned doctors 
stood at the door of her apartments, seeking ad 
mission. They entered, and for two long hours 
endeavored to persuade her to recant, and die 
in the bosom of the Catholic church. And this 
when her hours on earth were but few, and she 



LADY JANE GREY. 273 

had begged them to go their way, and let her 
rest in quiet. It may have been that nothing 
but zeal was the cause for this persecution, but 
it strikes us that one cause w as anger at Lady 
Jane's perseverance in her belief in Protestant- 
ism, and her wonderful calmness in view of 
death. The terrible efforts of her enemies to con- 
vert her to Catholicism, look to us as if caused 
by something else than mere religious zeal. 
There was a kind of gratification in seeing her 
obliged to answer all the difficult questions 
which the cool and calculating priests could 
put to her, in worrying the poor creature's last 
hours, as the deer is worried by the ravenous 
hounds. But it was impossible to disturb her 
peaceful spirit, " for her faith being built upon 
the rock Christ, was by no worldly persuasion 
or comfort to be either moved or shaken ; so 
that after the expense of time, and the loss of 
much speech, they left her (as they said) a lost 
and forsaken member ; but she, as before, prayed 
for them, and with a most charitable patience 
endured their worst censures." So writes a 
faithful historian of her times. 

At length the theological disputants left her 

alone. It must now have been late in the even- 
1 



274 THE LIFE OP 

ing, but Lady Jane, as soon as her visitors left, 
sat down to the composition of a prayer which 
had solaced her in prison. She wrote it out and 
corrected it, and it has been carefully preserved 
to this day. It is as follows : 

" A PRAYER MADE BY LADY JANE IN THE TIME 
OF HKR TROUBLE. 

" Lord, thou God and father of my life, 
hear me, poor and desolate woman, which flieth 
unto thee only, in all troubles and miseries. 
Thou, O Lord, art the only defender and deliv- 
erer of those that put their trust in thee ; and 
therefore, I being defiled with sin, encumbered 
with affliction, unquieted with troubles, wrapt 
in cai-es, overwhelmed with miseries, vexed with 
temptations, and grievously tormented with long 
imprisonment of this vile mass of clay, my sin- 
ful body, do come unto thee, merciful Saviour, 
craving thy mercy and help, without which so 
little hope of deliverance is left, that I may 
utterly despair of any liberty. Albeit it is ex- 
pedient that, seeing our life standeth upon try- 
ing, we should be visited sometime with some 
adversity, whereby we might both be tried 



LADY JANE GREY. 275 

whether we be of the flock or no, aud also 
know thee and ourselves the better ; yet thou 
that saidst thou wouldst not suffer us to be 
tempted above our power, be merciful unto 
me now, a miserable wretch, I beseech thee, 
humbly desiring thee that I may neither be 
too much puffed up with prosperity, neither 
too much pressed down with adversity, lest I, 
being too full, should deny thee, my God, or 
being too low brought, should despair, and blas- 
pheme thee, my Lord and Saviour. O merci- 
ful Grod, consider my misery best known unto 
thee ; and be thou now unto me a strong tower 
of defence, I humbly require thee. Suffer me 
not to be tempted above my power ; but either 
be thou deliverer unto me out of this great 
misery, or else give grace patiently to bear thy 
heavy hand and sharp correction. It was thy 
right hand that delivered the people of Israel 
out of the hands of Pharaoh, which for the 
space of four hundred years did oppress them, 
and keep them in bondage. Let it, therefore, 
likewise seem good to thy fatherly goodness, to 
deliver me, a sorrowful wretch, for whom thy 
son Christ shed his precious blood on the cross, 
out of this miserable captivity and bondage 



276 THE LIFE OF 

■wlierein I am now. How long wilt thou be 
absent? Forever? Lord, hast thou forgot- 
ten to be gracious, and hast thou shut up thy 
loving kindness in displeasure ? Wilt thou be 
no more entreated? Is thy mercy clean gone 
forever, and thy promise come utterly to an 
end forever more? Why dost thou make so 
long tarry ? Shall I despair of thy mercy, O 
God ? Far be that from me. I am thy work- 
manship, created in Christ Jesus ; give me grace, 
therefore, to tarry thy leisure, and patiently 
to bear thy works, assuredly knowing that 
as thou canst, thou wilt deliver me, when it 
shall please thee, nothing doubting or mistrust- 
ing thy goodness towards me: for thou know- 
est better what is good for me than I do : 
therefore do with me, in all things, what thou 
wilt, and plague me what way thou wilt. Only 
in the mean time arm me, I beseech thee, with 
thy armor, that I may stand fast, my loins being 
girded about with verity, having on thy breast- 
plate of righteousness, and shod with the shoes 
prepared by the gospel of peace; above all 
things taking to me the shield of faith, where- 
with I may be able to quench all the fiery 
darts of the wicked, and taking the helmet of 



LADY JANE GEEY. 277 

salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which ia 
tliy most holy word, praying always, with all 
manner of prayer and supplication, that I may 
refer myself wholly to thy will, abiding thy 
pleasure, and comforting myself in those trou- 
bles that it shall please thee to send me ; seeing 
such troubles be profitable for me, and seeing I 
am assuredly persuaded that it cannot be but 
.well all that thou dost. Hear me, O merciful Fa- 
ther, for His sake whom thou wouldst should be 
a sacrifice for my sins: to whom, with Thee 
and the Holy Grhost, be all honor and glory. 
Amen." 

The feeling of the people in reference to the 
execution of Lady Jane Grey and Lord Guild- 
ford Dudley, was intense. Sympathy for them 
was expressed everywhere ; and, indeed, the 
city of London was, from this and many other 
causes, in a state of panic. Military law pre- 
vailed, and fifty soldiers, who had deserted the 
queen's standard, were hung. They were all 
citizens of London, and were hung before their 
own doors. Corpses were to be seen in every 
street, and in every house in London there was 
fear and agitation. And now came the morning 



278 THE LIFE OP 

of Lady Jane Grey's execution. The Twelfth 
day of February, 1554, is a day long to be re- 
membered by students of English history, for 
on that day perished one of the loveliest and 
most innocent and gentle of all heroines. The 
month of February is generally in England a 
chilly and stormy month, and we may well 
suppose that little beauty of nature was visible 
that day ; so sad were the events then tran- 
spiring, that it would hardly have been meet 
for nature to be arrayed in her most attractive 
robes. 

Queen Mary at first intended that Lady 
Jane and her husband should be executed to- 
gether on Tower Hill. What could have been 
her reason for wishing them to die together 
we know not, but it certainly was a very cruel 
thought. However, such was the universal and 
strong feeling in favor of the unfortunate pair, 
that the council, fearing that were the people to 
see the death of Lady Jane, it would add fuel 
to the fires of agitation still raging in the city, 
countermanded the first order, and directed that 
Lord Guildford Dudley should suffer alone on 
tbe Tower Hill, and that Lady Jane Grey 
should be executed within the walls of the 



LADY JANE GREY. 279 

prison, and of course out of sigLt of the com- 
passionate people. 

Lofd Guildford was soon informed of this 
change in the attendant ceremonies of the exe- 
cution, and was exceedingly anxious for an 
interview with his wife. The queen was qaite 
willing that he should be gratified in his wish, 
well knowing that it could only add to the 
anguish of them both, and tend to discompose 
their minds. Lady Jane was, however, suffi- 
ciently prudent and courageous to refuse to see 
her husband. She well knew that their meet- 
ing must be agonizing, full of bitter tears and 
pain, and that after such a scene neither would 
be so calm and so well prepared to meet tri- 
umphantly the death which awaited them. She 
sent back word to her husband that the tender- 
ness of their parting would overcome the forti- 
tude of both, and would too much unbend their 
minds from that constancy which their approach- 
ing end required of them. Their separation, 
she said, would only be for a moment ; and that 
they would soon rejoin each other, in a country 
where their affections would be forever united, 
and where death, disappointment, and raisfor- 



280 THE LIFE OF 

tunes could no longer have access to tbem, or 
disturb their eternal felicity ! 

A more beautiful reply could not have "been 
given, nor a wiser decision made. Indeed, 
throughout the whole career of this angelic 
creature, we are constantly surprised at her wis- 
dom, as well as gentleness. Though tender in 
years, constitution, and disposition, yet she ever 
manifests the superior wisdom of age. This is 
not mere panegyric — the reader has seen how 
circumspectly Lady Jane conducted herself at 
court amid every temptation, and how pure she 
came from it ; has seen how prudently she ever 
carried herself, how learned she was, and still 
how lovely. There was only one mistake — the 
acceptance of the crown — and it never can prop- 
erly be said that she accepted, it. Such was the 
amount of persuasion and force used against her 
better feelings and decisions, that she was scarce- 
ly a free agent in the act of the usurpation of the 
crown. Every other act of her life recorded in 
history, redounds to her glory as a wise, truly 
affectionate, and pious woman. 

But we must hasten to describe the solemn 
events of the memorable Twelfth. Soon after 
Lady Jane Grey sent the communication just 



LADY JANE GREY. 2Sl 

alluded to, to Lord Guildford, he was led out of 
the T(;wer. When he was outside of the gate, 
he was given up to the custody of one of the 
sheriffs of London, named Thomas Offleie. When 
passing out to the gate, he walked immediatelj 
beneath the window of Lady Jane, and for a 
moment he gazed up at her with a look of sad- 
ness yet of affection. She caught his eye, and 
gave him a signal that she saw him, and that he 
yet reigned over her heart. When he was out 
of sight, she resumed her seat, and with perfect 
calmness and resignation awaited the dread hour 
of death. She had seen the last of her living 
husband — in a few minutes more he would be in 
eternity ! 

When Lord Guildford arrived at the gate, 
many of his fiiends were there waiting for him, 
and he shook hands tenderly with Sir Anthony 
Bronne, John Throckmorton, and many others, 
bidding them farewell with calmness, and ask- 
ing them to pray for him. When he approached 
the scaffold, he mounted it with dignified com- 
posure, and knelt down in silent prayer to God. 
It is said after he had been on his knees for a 
few moments, he paused, and raised his eyes and 
hands up to Heaven, while a single tear dropped 



282 THE LIFE OP 

from his eye. A large crowd of people were 
gathered about the place, and he spoke to them, 
desiring that they would pray for him ; then he 
quietly laid his head down upon the block, and 
gave himself up to the executioner. The axe 
fell — and he was dead. 

His head was laid in a white cloth, and with 
the body carried to a cart, in which they were 
taken back to the Tower for burial. News of 
his courage and noble conduct in death flew to 
Lady Jane Grey, and she was comforted. She 
was sitting quietly in her chamber, surrounded 
by her attendants, when the rumbling of a cart 
was heard. Lady Jane rose at once and walked 
to the window. Her attendants endeavored to 
keep her back, for they knew that in the cart 
were the remains of her husband ; but she over- 
came them with dignity, and passed to the win- 
dow, and looked steadily down upon the lifeless 
form of her loved husband. The sight must 
have given her an awful shock, but the only 
sign she exhibited was a deep, long sigh, and 
the following apostrophe, which burnt from her 
almost broken though calm heart : 

"Oh! Guildford! Guildford! the antepast 
is not so bitter that you hav^ tasted, and that I 



LADY JANE GREY. 283 

sball soon taste, as to make my flesh tremble ; 
but that is nothing compared to the feast that 
yon and I shall this day partake of in Heaven ! " 

But now her own time had come. Prepara- 
tions had been making inside the walls of the 
Tower for her execution, a scaffold being erect- 
ed upon a green opposite to the "White Tower. 
When all was ready, the lieutenaut of the Tow- 
er, Sir John Gage, asked if she would not, before 
she left her apartments, give to him a small 
present, which he might keep always as a me- 
morial of her. She gave him a table book, 
where she had just written three sentences — one 
in Greek, one in Latin, and one in English — 
upon her husband's dead body. The meaning 
of these sentences was that human justice was 
against his body, but that divine mercy would 
save his soul ; that if her own fault deserved 
punishment, yet her youth at least, and her im- 
prudence, were worthy of excuse, and that God 
and posterity would show her favor. 

In her chamber she scratched the following 
with a pin : 

" Deo juvante, nil nocet malus ; 

Et non juvante, nil juvat labor gravis. 
Post tenebris, spero lucem." 



^64: THE LIFE OF 

These lines have been translated as follows. 

" Whilst God assists us, Enry bites in vain ; 
If God forsake us, fruitless all our pain. 

I hope for light after darkness." 

Four more lines, the following, it is said weie 
also written by her : 

" Whate'er by man, as mortal, is assigned, 
Should raise compassion, reader, in thy mind ! 
Mourn others' woes, and to thy own resign ; 
The fate which I have found, may soon be thine." 

Lady Jane, being told that everything was 
ready for her execution, arose, and accompanied 
by her attendants, walked to the scaffold. Her 
countenance was natural and happy; not a sin- 
gle tear was in her eyes, nor scarcely a shade of 
sorrow upon her countenance. Her two maids, 
or attendants, Elizabeth Tilney and Mistress 
Ellen, wept aloud, but their sweet mistress was 
serene and beautiful as a summer morning. 
When she was come down from Master Par- 
tridge's home, where her apartments were, she 
was delivered into the hands of the London 
sheriffs, and her conduct was so modest, and 
yet so fearless, without agitation or curiosity, 
that every one was surprised. As a striking 
writer has saii, "like a divine body, going to 



LADY JANE GEET. 285 

be united to her heart's best and longest beloved, 
so showed she forth all the beams of a well* 
mixed and well-tempered alacrity, rather in- 
structing patience how it should suffer, than 
being by patience any way able to endure the 
the travail of so grievous a journey." 

The lieutenant offered her his hand to lead 
her forth, and she took it without the slightest 
symptom of fear, without any paleness of cheek, 
and without a tear. While she was walking ixj 
the scaffold, she held in her hand a book, by the 
help of which she prayed very fervently, though 
Feckenham accompanied her, and endeavored 
to interrupt her in her devotions. She ascend- 
ed the scaffold as naturally as if she had been 
mounting the stairs of her own chamber, and 
stood meekly before her murderers until there 
was silence, when she spoke to the people pres- 
ent as follows, in a clear and pleasant voice : 

" Good people, I come hither to die, and by a 
law I am condemned to the same. My offence 
against the queen's highness was only in consent 
to the device of others, wL«3h is now deemed 
treason ; but it was never of my seeking, but by 
counsel of those who would seem to have fur- 
ther understanding of such things than I, who 



286 THE LITE OF 

knew little of the law, and mucli less of the titlts 
to the crown. The fact, indee(3, was unlawful, 
and the consenting thereto by me, or in my be- 
half. I do wash mj hands thereof in innocence, 
before God and you, good Christian people, this 
day." When she pronounced these words Lady 
Jane wrung her hands, some thought from agony 
of mind, but it was undoubtedly an action to 
illustrate her words. She went on with perfect 
composure to say, "I pray you all, good Chris- 
tian people, to bear me witness, that I die a true 
Christian woman, and that I look to be saved 
by none other means but only by the mercy of 
God, and the merits of the blood of his only 
son, Jesus Christ ; and I confess when I did 
know the word of God, I neglected the same, 
and loved myself and the world, and therefore 
this plague and punishment is happily and wor- 
thily happened unto me for my sins ; and yet I 
thank God of his goodness, that he has thus 
given me time and respite to repent. And now, 
good people, while I am alive, I pray you to 
assist me with your prayers." 

Lady Jane was surrounded by Catholic di- 
vines ; not a single Protestant clergyman was 
allowed to be with her during her last moments; 



LADY JANE GREY. 287 

and in her speech she seems to have determined 
to let the world know that she died in the Pro- 
testant faith. Perhaps she was afraid that they 
Avould attempt to make her out a convert to 
Catholicism, so strenuous had been their exer- 
tions to that end ; and therefore her dying 
speech set at rest, at once and forever, the 
question. 

When she was through speaking she knelt 
down to pray, and seeing Feckenham at her 
side, she pointed at a psalm in her book, and 
meekly asked : 

" Shall I say this psalm ? " 

His reply was a simple " Yea ; " and Lady 
Jane repeated the Miserere mei Deus in English, 
and in a solemn manner. When she had repeat- 
ed this psalm, she said to Feckenham : 

"God will abundantly requite you, good sir, 
for your humanitv to me, though your dis- 
courses gave me more uneasiness than all the 
terrors of my approaching death." 

Her devotions were now ended, and she was 
ready for the sacrifice of her life. She arose 
from her knees, still calm and beautiful, and 
began to undress, first taking off her gloves, and 
then her handkerchief, which articles she hand- 



288 THE LIFE OF 

ed to Elizabeth Tilney, her maid. A book, 
which heretofore she had held in her hand, she 
now gave to the lieutenant's brother, Mr. Thom- 
as Brydges. 

She was proceeding to unloose her gown, 
when the executioner, meaning no harm, some- 
what rudely attempted to assist her, but she 
mildly requested that he vrould not touch her ; 
and turning to her maids, Elizabeth and Ellen, 
asked them to assist her. Her gown was un- 
loosed and taken off, and then her " froze peste 
and handkerchief." When this was done, her 
maids gave her a white handkerchief, with 
which it was expected she would bandage her 
eyes. 

The executioner, who seems to have been 
touched by her gentle behavior, and perhaps 
feared that she was offended with him for his 
attempt to assist her in unrobing, now knelt at 
her feet and asked her forgiveness for what he 
had done and was about to do, which she ac- 
corded to him in tho sweetest manner. The 
executioner then rose up and asked her to stand 
upon some straw. In doing so she caught her 
first glance at the fearful fatal block. But 
it is said that she did not shrink from, nor 



LADY JANE GREY. 289 

show any fear of it, but said simply to the 
executioner : 

"I pray you dispatch me quickly." 
After saying this she knelt down and asked : 
" Will you take it off before I lay me down ? " 
^he execationer answered, 

'"o, madam." 
Lady Jane now, without any apparent agita- 
tion, took with her own beautiful hands the 
white handkerchief, which we have before al- 
luded to, and tied it carefully over her eyes. 
She was now blindfolded, and endeavored to feel 
for the block, and asked, " What shall I do ? 
Where is it?" 

A person near her, on the scaffold, guided her 
to the block, and she instantly laid her head 
upon it, and then, stretching her body out grace- 
fully, rested for a moment, then exclaimed : 
" Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit !" 
There was a moment of appalling silence — 
then the axe fell, and her lovely head rolled 
away from the body. 

It is said that scarcely one of the spectators 

witnessed her death without tears, and many 

cried aloud. Even the hard-hearted priests who 

came to enjoy her agony, could not refrain from 

^ 19 



290 THE LIFE OF 

weeping, and the good-hearted, though bigoted 
Feckenham, was filled with anguish. 

Fuller declares that "it is reported that Ladj 
Jane was as ladies wish to be who love their 
lords," when she was executed, and adds, "it 
was cruelty to cut down the tree with blossoms 
on it ; and that which has saved the lives of 
many women, hastened her death ; but God 
only knows the truth thereof." We know not 
what cause Fuller had for his remark, as no his- 
torian mentions any such fact or report. 

Judge Morgan, so Fox writes, who sentenced 
Lady Jane to death, shortly after her execution 
went mad, and in his raving, constantly shouted 
the name of Lady Jane Grey, and asked to have 
her taken away from him ; and so his life ended. 
It is not strange that the scene of her execution, 
which perhaps he was a witness of, should haunt 
the wretched man ; that the saint-like person of 
Lady Jane, whom he had so unjustly consigned 
to an early death, should refuse to quit the 
chambers of his diseased mind, when upon his 
death-bed. There was a feeling everywhere 
abroad, which accused Mary and her council 
of cruelty in the execution of Lady Jane Grey, 
and time has strengthened that feeling, until at 



LADY JANE GREY. 291 

this day no one will attempt for a moment to 
justify her terrible act There was really not 
the slightest danger to her crown from the con- 
tinued existence of Lady Jane ; and we think 
that though she may have been alarmed by her 
council, by representations of the insurrection- 
ary state of the kingdom, yet one of the truest 
reasons why she signed the death-warrant was 
that, after all, she hated her cousin, as there is 
the best of evidence that she had done many 
years before. Lady Jane Grey's father and 
friends had been guilty of assisting in the deg- 
radation of the queen's mother and herself, and 
the claims of Lady Jane to the throne was with- 
out validity, unless Mary was declared to be 
of illegitimate birth. The queen could never 
overlook these facts — nor could Elizabeth, who 
reigned after her, and who, alike with Mary, 
was illegitimated by Northumberland and Suf- 
folk in their state papers. 

But when the innocent Lady Jane had expi- 
ated her mistake on the scaffold, it must have 
been that occasionally her memory rendered the 
pillow of the queen less fraught with pleasant 
dreams than it would have been, had Lady 
^Tane Grey never perished by her hand. In the 



292 LADY JANE GREY. 

Silent watches of the night, she must have som6 
times seen the innocent girFs blood upon that 
pillow. One thing is very certain, tliat never 
afterward does she seem to have been happy ; 
and she expired at last under circumstances of 
gloom and sadness. 



CHAPTER. XIII. 

TKIAt OF THB DUKE OF SUFFOLK. HIS EXECUTION. END OF WYATT. 

LADV KATHARINE AND LADY MART GEEY. PERSECUTION OF 

QUEEN ELIZABETH. THK END. 

HavinCt concluded our narrative of the career 
of Lady Jane Grey, — her childhood, marriage, 
queenhood, and death, — little remains to be said. 
A few words, however, will be necessary, to 
sketch the fortunes of those persons who were 
intimately connected with our heroine. 

The Duke of Suffolk, Lady Jane's father, 
when taken into custody by the queen's officers, 
acted like a child, crying and moaning over 
his fate. Five days after the execution of his 
glorious child, he was himself brought to trial at 
"Westminster Hall. He was indicted for levying 
war against the queen, and adhering to the 
cause of Sir Thomas Wyatt, in order to depose 
the queen, and set the crown upon the head of 
his daughter. 



294 THE LIFE OF 

He answered, that it was not treason for a 
peer of the realm, which he was, to raise his 
power and make his proclamation to avoid 
strangers out of the land making allusion to 
the Spaniards. The judges replied that he had 
done more; that he had opposed the queen's 
lieutenant at the head of her majesty's forces, 
which could net be construed as aught but high 
treason. He replied that he knew not that the 
person he opposed was the queen's lieutenant ; 
that his brother had advised him to go down 
into the country, where he would be safe anvDng 
his tenants ; but if he staid in town, he would 
be committed to the Tower again. 

The duke was condemned to death, and very 
justly, too, we think ; for he had committed 
treason for the second time, and that, too, with 
the utmost recklessness of character. When he 
returned from Westminster Hall, the duke was 
very sad, and desired all the persons whom he 
met to pray for him. Six days afterward, on 
the twenty-third day of February, he was 
brought to the place of execution on Tower 
Hill, where he confessed that his sentence was 
a just one, because he had been disloyal to 
Queen Mary. He asked the people who were 



LADY JANE GREY. 295 

gathered to witness his death, to take warning 
from his fate, and be dutiful to the government. 
He avowed himself a believer in the Christian 
religion, and hoped for eternal mercy through 
Christ. After saying this, he was beheaded. 

Sir Thomas Wyatt met his fate on the 11th 
of April ; and a fortnight after, Lord Thomas 
Grey, brother to the late Duke of Suffolk, was 
beheaded on Tower Hill. At this time, Eliza- 
beth, afterwards so renowned, was herself a 
prisoner, and in the same prison with her was 
Robert Dudley, brother to Guildford Dudley, 
Lady Jane Grey's husband. This person after- 
wards became the celebrated Earl of Leicester, 
and was Queen Elizabeth's favorite. By some 
it is asserted that the queen began to love him 
at this time, when they were in prison together. 
The Duchess of Suffolk survived her husband 
and her daughter for many years, dying in the 
year 1563. She married again, but her second 
husband was a gentleman much beneath her in 
social position ; but it is suggested that she 
married low purposely, that she might be over- 
looked, and allowed to live out her remaining 
days in security. Her husband's name was 
Adrian Stokes, and for many years he was one 



296 THE LIFE OF 

of her family domestics. There was little in 
her character which can command our respect, 
though perhaps she was the equal of her husband 

Of Lady Jane Grrej's two sisters, Ladj Kath 
arine and Lady Mary, but little is known. Lady 
Katharine had been betrothed to Lord Herbert, 
son of the Earl of Pembroke, but he repudiated 
the engagement for political reasons, now that 
the name of Suffolk was covered with disgrace. 
Lady Katharine was thus most shamefully de- 
serted. Fuller says quaintly of her : 

" This Heraclita, or Lady of Lamentation, thus 
repudiated, was seldom seen with dry eyes for 
some years togethef, sighing out her sorrowful 
condition ; so that though the roses in- her 
cheeks looked very wan and pale, it was not for 
want of watering." 

During the reign of Elizabeth, the Lady 
Katharine fell in love with Edward Seymour, 
Earl of Hertford. They were married secretly ; 
but one day the queen discovered that Lady 
Katharine was enciente, and the secret came out 
that they had married without the queen's 
leave. Here was an excellent opportunity for 
Elizabeth to retaliate upon the daughter for the 
wrongs committed by her father many years 



LADY JANK GREY. 297 

before upon the queen, and she sent the couple 
to prison. Lady Katharine begged her friend, 
the Earl of Leicester, — brother to Lady Jane's 
husband, — to intercede in their behalf; but the 
earl dared not, for at that time he hoped to 
marry his queen, and cared not to remind her 
of his relationship to treasonable men. He 
therefore refused the suit of Katharine. In 
prison, the couple found means of access to each 
other, and in the course of time a second child 
was born, and a costly child it was to them, for 
the queen fined them £20,000. For seven long 
years she was confined to her dungeon, for the 
simple reason that she was a sister to the saint- 
like Lady Jane Grey. This was not the osten- 
sible but the true reason for Elizabeth's outra- 
geous cruelty. Lady Katharine, at the end of 
seven years, expired, worn down with grief and 
trouble. 

Lady Mary Grey married a man of humble 
origin, purposely to escape the sad fate of her 
two sisters. She died childless in 1575. 

When we contemplate the lessons which his- 
tory affords us, the conviction becomes strong 
in our hearts — we cannot escape it if we would 
— that beyond this sphere of action there is a 



298 THE LIFE OF 

Court, before which all personages, whether kings 
or peasants, must be tried, and where all the 
unrighteous verdicts rendered here will be over- 
ruled, and pure justire administered to all, with- 
out respect of persons. It were easy to imagine 
before that judgment-throne the persons who 
have figured prominently in our pages — Henry 
VIII., covered with the blood of his victims — 
Queen Mary, earnest, but vindictive and cruel- 
hearted — and pure, spotless, glorious Lady Jane 
Grey! We might go further, and decide, in 
our imaginations, the fete awaiting each — but 
we have no right. God will judge righteously, 
and with Ilim we may trustingly confide the 
ministration of mercy and justice to our fellow- 
creatures and ourselves. 



'-'^'^ARYoFi 



